What to do when you can’t (afford to) collect your own data? : a test case using the longitudinal study of Australian children to investigate the influence of parental context on media use and obesity

The dramatic rise in childhood obesity prevalence in the last two decades has prompted concern about the risk factors that may precipitate or maintain weight gain, or both, in early childhood. Media use has long been implicated in policy debates in Australia, particularly around limits to advertising. However the Australian research funding ecology and dominant paradigms in Australian communication and media studies have resulted in a lack of independent, nationally representative studies upon which to base advice. Australian researchers often can’t afford to collect the kind of data they would like in order to intervene productively as policy actors. As a test case for innovative ways round this dilemma, this paper mobilises secondary data analysis methodologies to explore potential influences of parenting on children’s media use and their weight status.The research reported here uses data from the first three waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Results from a path model suggest that children of mothers who were less consistent in the way in which they enforce their rules were more likely to adopt unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, such as sedentary behaviour and consuming unhealthy snacks. Of the lifestyle behaviours considered, time spent watching television or DVDs was the only predictor of child weight status in late childhood. These results suggest a clear pathway linking consistent parenting and other parental practices, children’s lifestyle behaviours and weight status

My baby body : a qualitative insight into women\u27s body-related experiences and mood during pregnancy and the postpartum

An inductive qualitative approach was employed to explore women\u27s experiences of their body and mood during pregnancy and the postpartum. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 perinatal women (n at late pregnancy=10; n in the early postpartum period=10). While most of the sample reported adapting positively to body changes experienced during pregnancy, the postpartum period was often associated with body dissatisfaction. Women reported several events unique to pregnancy which helped them cope positively with bodily changes (e.g. increased perceived body functionality, new sense of meaning in life thus placing well-being of developing foetus above body aesthetics, perceptual experiences such as feeling baby kick, increased sense of social connectedness due to pregnancy body shape, and positive social commentary); however, these events no longer protected against body dissatisfaction post-birth. While women reported mood lability throughout the perinatal period, the postpartum was also a time of increased positive affect for most women, and overall most women did not associate body changes with their mood. Clinical implications of these findings included the need for education about normal postpartum body changes and their timing, and the development of more accurate measures of perinatal body image.<br /

Do maternal perceptions of child eating and feeding help to explain the disconnect between reported and observed feeding practices?: A follow-up study

Research demonstrates a mismatch between reported and observed maternal feeding practices. This mismatch may be explained by maternal cognitions, attitudes, and motivations relating to dyadic parent–child feeding interactions. These complex constructs may not be apparent during observations nor evidenced in self-report questionnaire. Therefore, the aim of this study was to use a qualitative approach to gain a more nuanced and contextualized understanding of (a) maternal perceptions of children's food intake control; (b) how parent–child mealtime interactions influence maternal feeding practices; and (c) ways in which mothers may promote healthy child eating and weight outcomes. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 23 mothers (M = 38.4 ± 3.7 years of age) of preschool-aged children (M = 3.8 ± 0.6 years of age, 19 were normal weight, 14 were girls), who had previously completed child feeding questionnaire and participated in two home-based mealtime observations, 12 months apart. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and themes extracted to create the database. Four major themes emerged: (a) Maternal confidence in children's ability to regulate food intake is variable; (b) Implementing strategies for nurturing healthy relationships with food beyond the dining table; (c) Fostering positive mealtime interactions is valued above the content of what children eat; and (d) Situation-specific practices and inconsistencies. Findings indicate that maternal feeding practices are shaped by both parent and child influences, and child feeding is mostly guided by controlling the family food environment, rather than by directly pressuring or restricting their child's eating. Results also highlighted the need for research to consider both parent and child influences on child feeding

Systematic review of mental health and well-being outcomes following community-based obesity prevention interventions among adolescents

This paper aimed to systematically evaluate the mental health and well-being outcomes observed in previous community-based obesity prevention interventions in adolescent populations

Psychosocial predictors of exclusive breastfeeding duration to six moths postpartum

The World Health Organization recommend that for optimal growth and development all infants worldwide should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. Previous studies have identified that psychosocial factors are important for the maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding. This study aimed to examine the psychosocial factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding duration to six months postpartum. Method: 125 women completed questionnaires at three time points; 32 weeks gestation, two and six months postpartum. Self-efficacy, body attitude, psychological adjustment, attitude, intention, confidence, motivation and importance of exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding status were measured. Findings: At 32 weeks gestation a woman’s confidence to achieve exclusive breastfeeding was a predictor of exclusive breastfeeding to six months postpartum. At two months postpartum, psychological adjustment and self-efficacy were predictive of exclusive breastfeeding duration. At six months postpartum, psychological adjustment, self-efficacy, confidence to maintain and feeling fat were predictive of exclusive breastfeeding duration. Conclusion: Self-efficacy, psychological adjustment, body image, motivation and confidence are important for the maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding to six months. This has clinical application for health psychology as antenatal breastfeeding education and postpartum support may be strengthened by strategies that build a woman’s confidence to exclusively breastfeed

Psychosocial predictors of exclusive breastfeeding duration to six moths postpartum

The World Health Organization recommend that for optimal growth and development all infants worldwide should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. Previous studies have identified that psychosocial factors are important for the maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding. This study aimed to examine the psychosocial factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding duration to six months postpartum. Method: 125 women completed questionnaires at three time points; 32 weeks gestation, two and six months postpartum. Self-efficacy, body attitude, psychological adjustment, attitude, intention, confidence, motivation and importance of exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding status were measured. Findings: At 32 weeks gestation a woman’s confidence to achieve exclusive breastfeeding was a predictor of exclusive breastfeeding to six months postpartum. At two months postpartum, psychological adjustment and self-efficacy were predictive of exclusive breastfeeding duration. At six months postpartum, psychological adjustment, self-efficacy, confidence to maintain and feeling fat were predictive of exclusive breastfeeding duration. Conclusion: Self-efficacy, psychological adjustment, body image, motivation and confidence are important for the maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding to six months. This has clinical application for health psychology as antenatal breastfeeding education and postpartum support may be strengthened by strategies that build a woman’s confidence to exclusively breastfeed

Preventing mental health problems in offspring by targeting dietary intake of pregnant women

The concept of \u27early life programming\u27 considers the importance of very early environmental exposures throughout the gestational period on the subsequent health outcomes of offspring. The role of maternal dietary intake, specifically, has been highlighted after recent studies have shown maternal diet quality to predict mental health problems in offspring. Even in the pre-conception period, maternal nutrition can have permanent and sustained phenotypic consequences for offspring

Reducing postpartum weight retention: a review of the implementation challenges of postpartum lifestyle interventions

Postpartum weight retention (PPWR) is a strong predictor of obesity in later life with long term health consequences in women. Suboptimal lifestyle behaviours (e.g., diet and physical activity) contribute to PPWR. Postpartum lifestyle interventions are known to be efficacious in reducing PPWR; however, there are challenges to their successful implementation. To inform implementation, this narrative review provides an overview of the factors that contribute to PPWR, the efficacy of existing postpartum lifestyle interventions and key determinants of effective implementation using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) across intervention characteristics, implementation process, individual characteristics and outer and inner setting. We then suggest strategies to improve the translation of evidence into large-scale interventions that deliver on health impact in postpartum women. We have identified gaps that need to be addressed to advance postpartum lifestyle research, including the involvement of postpartum women and community members as key stakeholders for optimal reach and engagement, more complete reporting of intervention characteristics to optimize translation of evidence into practice, capacity building of health professionals and guidelines for postpartum lifestyle management.Maureen Makama, Helen Skouteris, Lisa J. Moran and Siew Li

Depressive symptomatology, weight status and obesogenic risk among Australian adolescents: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES: Adolescence is a period of increased risk for mental health problems and development of associated lifestyle risk behaviours. This study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between obesogenic risk factors, weight status, and depressive symptomatology in a cohort of Australian adolescents. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: The study used repeated measures data from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) It\u27s Your Move project, an Australian community-based obesity prevention intervention. Intervention effect was non-significant therefore intervention and comparison groups were combined in this study. PARTICIPANTS: Total sample was 634 secondary school students (female n=338, male n=296) with mean age 13 years (SD=0.6) at baseline (2012) and 15 years (SD=0.6) at follow-up (2014) recruited from 6 government secondary schools in the ACT. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES MEASURES: Primary outcome was depressive symptomatology measured by Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were weight status, physical activity, screen time and diet related measures. RESULTS: Increased physical activity was associated to lower depressive symptomatology among males (OR=0.35, p&lt;0.05). Sweet drink (OR=1.15, p&lt;0.05) and takeaway consumption (OR=1.84, p&lt;0.05) were associated with higher levels of depressive symptomatology among females at follow-up. Males who were classified as overweight or obese at baseline, and remained so over the study period, were at increased risk of depressive symptomatology at follow-up (b=1.63, 95% CI 0.33 to 2.92). Inactivity among males over the 2-year study period was predictive of higher depressive symptomatology scores at follow-up (b=2.55, 95% CI 0.78 to 4.32). For females, those who increased their consumption of takeaway foods during the study period were at increased risk for developing depressive symptomatology (b=1.82, 95% CI -0.05 to 3.71). CONCLUSIONS: There are multiple, probably complex, relationships between diet, physical activity and outcomes of obesity and mental health as well as between the outcomes themselves. Healthier diets and increased physical activity should be foundations for healthier body weight and mental health.<br /