Dietary Sugar Research in Preschoolers: Methodological, Genetic, and Cardiometabolic Considerations.

Excess dietary sugar intake increases the risk of unhealthy weight gain, an important cardiometabolic risk factor in children. To further our understanding of this relationship, we performed a narrative review using two approaches. First, research examining dietary sugar intake, its associations with cardiometabolic health, impact of genetics on sweet taste perception and intake, and how genetics moderates the association of dietary sugar intake and cardiometabolic risk factors in preschool-aged children 1.

Compliance with the 24-hour movement behavior guidelines and the impact of sleep methods among toddler, preschool, and school-aged children enrolled in the Guelph Family Health Study.

Unlabelled: Canadian movement guidelines focused on physical activity (PA), sleep, and screen time support childhood development and reduce the risk of chronic disease. Accelerometers are often used to capture these behaviors; however, they are limited in their ability to record daytime sleep due to potential misclassification.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the prevalence of children enrolled in the Guelph Family Health Study who met the guidelines and to 2) compare the impact of different sleep measurement methods.

Testing a Biobehavioral Model of Chronic Stress and Weight Gain in Young Children (Family Stress Study): Protocol and Baseline Demographics for a Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Chronic stress is an important risk factor in the development of obesity. While research suggests chronic stress is linked to excess weight gain in children, the biological or behavioral mechanisms are poorly understood.

Objective: The objectives of the Family Stress Study are to examine behavioral and biological pathways through which chronic stress exposure (including stress from COVID-19) may be associated with adiposity in young children, and to determine if factors such as child sex, caregiver-child relationship quality, caregiver education, and caregiver self-regulation moderate the association between chronic stress and child adiposity.

Dietary Sugar and Anthropometrics among Young Children in the Guelph Family Health Study: Longitudinal Associations.

Our understanding of the influence of sugar intake on anthropometrics among young children is limited. Most existing research is cross-sectional and has focused on sugar-sweetened beverages. The study objective was to investigate longitudinal associations between young children's total, free, and added sugar intake from all food sources at baseline with anthropometric measures at baseline and 18 months.

The degree of food processing contributes to sugar intakes in families with preschool-aged children.

Background And Aims: Evidence implicates ultra-processed food intake as a major contributor of excess dietary sugars. However, little research exists on the relationship between the degree of food processing and sugar intake in families with young children. We investigated associations between the degree of food processing and sugar intake (total and free sugars) in Canadian preschool-aged children and parents.

Sugar Intake among Preschool-Aged Children in the Guelph Family Health Study: Associations with Sociodemographic Characteristics.

Background: It is crucial to develop strategies targeted to promote healthy eating patterns in vulnerable populations, especially young children from diverse sociodemographic groups. Thus, the study objective was to investigate the associations between child age, child sex, child ethnicity, parent number of years living in Canada, annual household income, parent education and parent marital status with total, free and added sugar intakes in young children.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was a secondary analysis of data gathered in the Guelph Family Health Study.

The degree of food processing is associated with anthropometric measures of obesity in Canadian families with preschool-aged children.

Adopting a healthy diet remains central for the prevention of obesity. In adults, higher intake of ultra-processed food is associated with a greater risk of overweight and obesity. However, little is known about the degree of food processing and its association with anthropometric measures in families with preschool-aged children, a critical period for the development of dietary patterns.

Breakfast Quality of Preschool-aged Canadian Children.

To investigate the breakfast quality of preschool-aged children through a comparison of their energy and nutrient intakes at breakfast to published benchmarks for a balanced breakfast. Dietary data were collected for 163 children aged 3-5 years enrolled in the Guelph Family Health Study using one parent-reported online 24-hour recall and analyzed for energy and nutrient intakes. Breakfast quality was assessed by tallying the frequency of participants whose nutrient and energy intakes at their breakfast meal met the recommendations for a balanced breakfast established by the International Breakfast Research Initiative (IRBI).

Non-Nutritive Sweetener Intake Is Low in Preschool-Aged Children in the Guelph Family Health Pilot Study.

There is limited research on the intake of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) among preschool-aged children. Canada’s Food Guide suggests limiting intake of NNS for all population groups and Health Canada recommends that young children (<2 years) avoid consuming beverages containing NNS. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and type of non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) intake in preschool-aged children participating in the Guelph Family Health Study pilots.

Cheese Intake is Inversely Associated with LDL Cholesterol in Young Children.

To determine if intake (servings/day) of total dairy and/or dairy subtypes (milk, cheese, and yogurt) were associated with biomarkers related to dyslipidemia, insulin sensitivity and inflammation in a sample of cardio-metabolically healthy young children from the Guelph Family Health Study at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Baseline data from 42 children (aged 2.0-6.

Dietary sugar intake among preschool-aged children: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Excessive intake of sugar in young children is a public health concern. Our study objectives were to examine intakes of total, free and added sugar among preschool-aged children and to investigate their associations with body weight, body mass index Z-scores, percent fat mass and waist circumference.

Methods: The cross-sectional cohort study included preschool-aged children between 1.

Increasing dietary calcium intake of children and their parents: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: Approximately 25 % of Canadian children aged 4-8 years fail to meet the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of calcium (Ca). Young children's food choices are primarily determined by their parents. No interventions have directly targeted parents as a medium through which to increase children's Ca consumption.

Barriers and facilitators of household provision of dairy and plant-based dairy alternatives in families with preschool-age children.

Objective: This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators of the provision of dairy and plant-based dairy alternatives (PBDA) by parents of preschool-age children, a previously unexplored area of research.

Design: Five focus groups of parents were conducted and audio-recorded. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

Food Skills: Associations With Diet Quality and Food Waste Among Canadian Parents.

Objective: To examine the association between self-reported food skills and diet quality along with measured food waste among a sample of Canadian parents.

Design: Cross-sectional data from surveys to assess food skills, 3-day food records to assess the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, and food waste measured by household waste audits.

Setting: Guelph-Wellington, Ontario.

Dairy and Plant-Based Dairy Alternatives Purchasing Habits of Guelph-Based Families with Preschool-Aged Children.

To investigate dairy and plant-based dairy alternatives (DPBDA) purchasing habits, including comparisons among locations of purchase and among subtypes of DPBDA, of families with preschool-aged children. Expenditures on food and DPBDA were calculated using grocery and food receipts collected for 3 weeks from 51 households in and around Guelph, Ontario, Canada. DPBDA were coded by subtypes (alternatives, cheese/yogurt, cow's milk, cream, and ice cream/other) and by locations of purchase, which were coded as big-box, discount, high-end, local/other, and midrange stores.

Simulation in Learning and Using the Nutrition Care Process/Terminology: Experiences and Perceptions of Dietitians in Canada.

To investigate experiences with, and perceptions of, simulation in learning and using the Nutrition Care Process/Terminology (NCP/T) of dietitians in Canada. In February-March 2017, a convenience sample of 382 dietitians in Canada (71.8% in clinical practice) completed an online survey regarding the type(s), setting(s), and perceptions of the simulations in which they engaged in learning and using the NCP/T.

Stress is Associated with Adiposity in Parents of Young Children.

Objective: This study investigated associations between stress (general stress, parenting distress, and household chaos) and adiposity among parents of young children.

Methods: The sample consisted of 49 mothers and 61 fathers from 70 families with young children living in Ontario, Canada. Linear regression using generalized estimating equations was used to investigate associations between stress measures and BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist to height ratio (WHtR), and percent fat mass.

Patient Simulations Improve Dietetics Students' and Interns' Communication and Nutrition-Care Competence.

Objective: To investigate the impact of simulated patients on dietetics students' and interns' communication and nutrition-care competence.

Design: Pre-post observational study in which students' communication and nutrition-care competence was evaluated during the first and final clinical nutrition simulations in winter, 2017.

Setting: University of Guelph, Canada.

The reinforcing value of food and non-food alternative: Associations with BMI z-score and percent fat mass.

There is growing evidence of an association between the relative reinforcing value of food (RRVF; how hard a child is willing to work for a food versus a non-food reinforcer) and weight across many life stages, but few studies have examined this association among preschool age children. This study investigated the association between the RRVF (measured as the food reinforcing ratio (FRR)) and body mass index (BMI) z-score and percent fat mass (%FM), in 3 year-old children. The sample was comprised of 33 children who were 3 years of age (36-47 months).

Motivational interviewing with families in the home environment.

Objective: This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of using Motivational Interviewing (MI) in the home setting with families of preschoolers.

Methods: Using mixed-methods pilot data from an MI-based obesity prevention intervention delivered via home visits by health educators (HEs) with 44 families (n = 17 four home visit group; n = 14 two home visit group), we examined: 1) fidelity of MI adherence by HEs; 2) parents' perceptions of the intervention; and 3) HEs insights pertaining to the intervention's delivery.

Results: Multiple measures of MI fidelity were deemed to exceed defined proficiency levels.

An Exploration of Milk Product Health Beliefs and Dietary Calcium Intake in Young Adults.

Milk products (fluid milk, cheese, yogurt) typically provide a rich source of calcium and other nutrients, yet consumption is declining in Canada. This study examined milk product health beliefs among young adults and the association between these beliefs and dietary calcium intake. Seventy-nine participants (25 ± 4 y; 40 males) completed a milk product health belief questionnaire to determine a milk product health belief score (MPHBS) and a 3-day food record to assess dietary intake.

Interventions Aimed at Increasing Dairy and/or Calcium Consumption of Preschool-Aged Children: A Systematic Literature Review.

Dairy product consumption is important during childhood, as dairy products provide nutrients to support growth and development. However, a high proportion of children globally are not meeting recommended daily intakes, which may have long-term health implications. Accumulating evidence suggests that interventions aimed at instilling healthy lifestyle habits are most effective when initiated during the preschool years.

A randomized home-based childhood obesity prevention pilot intervention has favourable effects on parental body composition: preliminary evidence from the Guelph Family Health Study.

Background: Home-based lifestyle behaviour interventions show promise for treating and preventing childhood obesity. According to family theories, engaging the entire family unit, including parents, to change their family behaviour and dynamics may be necessary to prevent the development of childhood obesity. However, little is known about how these interventions, which may change the family dynamics and weight-related behaviours of parents, affect weight outcomes in parents.