Food choice and place of eating for Quebec children

摘要

PURPOSE: The relationships are explored between food choices of school-aged children and eating in the bedroom, while watching television, or in front of the computer. METHODS: Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire that 534 subjects completed in class. Participants were ten- to 12-year-old children from Quebec. RESULTS: Significant positive correlations were found between the act of eating in the bedroom and eating in front of the television or the computer (p<0.05). Significant positive correlations were also found between eating in the bedroom, or eating in front of the television or the computer, and the consumption of low-density food, foods high in sugar and fat, and foods low in fibre (p<0.05). Data also revealed more negative food habits for boys than for girls (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Because of the prevalence of childhood obesity, these findings support the need to document children's food consumption patterns and gender differences.