Strategies of Asian, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white parents to influence young adolescents' intake of calcium-rich foods, 2004 and 2005.

INTRODUCTION: Optimal intake of dietary calcium is critical to prevent osteoporosis later in life, yet most young adolescents do not consume the recommended amount. We describe parental strategies that can influence young adolescents' calcium intake in Asian, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white households METHODS: A qualitative research design employed semistructured individual interviews with a convenience sample of mostly female parents self-reported as Asian (n = 48), Hispanic (n = 44), or non-Hispanic white (n = 76) having a child aged 10 to 13 years at home. Interviews were conducted in homes or community centers in 12 states. Interview data were analyzed by using qualitative data analysis software and thematic content analysis procedures. RESULTS: Parents monitored calcium intake by making calcium-rich foods available, preparing calcium-rich foods, and setting expectations that children would consume calcium-rich foods. As mentors, parents encouraged intake of calcium-rich foods and advised children to moderate or increase intake of specific foods. Although parents perceived modeling of calcium intake as important, some were ambivalent about its effects. We noted minimal differences by racial/ethnic groups and sex of children in reported availability of selected calcium-rich foods at home, parental modeling of intake, and mentoring behaviors. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that interventions to help parents increase children's intake of calcium should focus on types of foods made available, giving age-appropriate encouragement and advice, and modeling proper intake.

At-home and away-from-home eating patterns influencing preadolescents' intake of calcium-rich food as perceived by Asian, Hispanic and Non-Hispanic white parents.

OBJECTIVE: To explore at-home and away-from-home eating patterns influencing Asian, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white preadolescents' intake of calcium-rich food from a parental perspective. DESIGN: Individual semistructured interviews. SETTING: Home or community site. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample (n = 201) of self-reported Asian (n = 54), Hispanic (n=57), and non-Hispanic white (n = 90) parents of 10- to 13-year-old children recruited from community youth programs. PHENOMENON OF INTEREST: Description of at-home and away-from-home family eating patterns. ANALYSIS: NVivo software to code and sort transcript segments, qualitative data analysis procedures. RESULTS: Participants from all groups shared common at-home and away-from-home meal patterns. A lack of time often resulted in negative factors that impacted intake of calcium-rich food and beverages including breakfast on the run, fewer home-prepared or shared family meals, and more frequent meals eaten away from home. Asian and Hispanic parents indicated eating out less frequently than non-Hispanic white parents. Parents from all groups lacked expectations for their child to drink calcium-rich beverages with meals. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Practical strategies are needed to facilitate intake of calcium-rich food and beverages through more frequent family meals at home and parental expectations for children's intake of calcium-rich beverages with meals.

Calcium intake of Asian, Hispanic and white youth.

OBJECTIVE: To examine calcium intake and food sources among Asian, white and Hispanic youth, in order to develop and target interventions to improve calcium intake. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey with two 24-hour dietary recalls one week apart. Calcium intake was evaluated in 167 male and female adolescents of Asian, Hispanic and white ethnicity, ages 10-18 years, from six states. Main outcome measures were mean daily calcium intake (mg/day). STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: t tests, Chi-square and analysis of variance for differences by age, ethnicity and gender, multiple regression of factors influencing calcium intake. RESULTS: Overall median calcium intake was 938 mg/day with 868 mg/day for Asians, 1180 mg/day for whites and 896 mg/day for Hispanics. Daily milk intake was the primary predictor of calcium intake with Asian ethnicity and female gender each showing a negative association to calcium intake in multiple regression models. CONCLUSIONS: Milk intake was the primary factor positively influencing calcium intake, while Asian ethnicity and female gender negatively influenced calcium intake. Thus, interventions to improve calcium intake should focus on improving milk intake of Asians and females.