A qualitative exploration of food portion size practices and awareness of food portion size guidance in first-time parents of one- to two-year-olds living in the UK

Porter, Alice; Langford, Rebecca; Summerbell, Carolyn; Tinner, Laura; Kipping, Ruth

Abstract

Background
Food portion size guidance resources aimed at parents of young children in the UK are freely available from a number of credible sources. However, little is known about whether parents are aware of, and use, any of these resources to guide their food portioning practices.

Objectives
We aimed to explore the food portion size practices used by first-time parents living in the UK when feeding their one- to two-year-old child, and their awareness of and views on six food portion size guidance resources.

Methods
Participants were recruited via parent Facebook groups and online parent forums. Online 1–1 semi-structured interviews were conducted, during which parents were shown images of six food portion size guidance resources to facilitate discussion. Data was analysed in NVivo 11 using a Reflexive Thematic Analysis approach.

Results
Of the 27 participants, most were women (n = 25), white (n = 18), and educated to first degree level or higher (n = 24). First-time parents mostly relied on their own judgement and “instinct” to portion foods, based on their learned experience of how much their child ate on a day-to-day basis. This experience was used alongside physical indicators of food portion size, such as the size of children’s dishware and food packaging. Most participants were unaware of any of the six food portion size guidance resources we showed them; only four had read any of the resources. Parents suggested they had previously sought advice about weaning from a range of sources (e.g. online, friends, community groups) but would be unlikely to seek out specific food portion size guidance. Parents suggested recommendations on food portion size should acknowledge and highlight parents’ perception that “every child is different”.

Conclusions
Existing food portion size guidance resources for parents of young children in the UK are ineffective as they have poor reach and impact. We suggest parents should be involved in developing novel strategies to promote age-appropriate consumption and healthy weight gain in young children.

Citation

Porter, A., Langford, R., Summerbell, C., Tinner, L., & Kipping, R. (2023). A qualitative exploration of food portion size practices and awareness of food portion size guidance in first-time parents of one- to two-year-olds living in the UK. BMC Public Health, 23(1), Article 1779 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16647-y

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 29, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Sep 13, 2023
• Publication Date: Sep 13, 2023
• Deposit Date: Sep 18, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 19, 2023
• Journal: BMC Public Health
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 1779 (2023)
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16647-y
• Keywords: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1740405
• Additional Information: Received: 9 December 2022; Accepted: 29 August 2023; First Online: 13 September 2023; : ; : This study was approved by the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, University of Bristol, UK (reference no: 100064). Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Data collection and analysis procedures were carried out in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.; : Not applicable.; : The authors declare no competing interests.