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A healthy diet with an optimal nutrient intake in early childhood lays the foundation for future eating habits and is of great importance to long-term health.
To examine the feeding practices of Hong Kong parents with young children as well as their children's food consumption and nutrient intake, the Department of Health (DH) together with Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong conducted a survey between February and September 2010.
The Survey of Infant and Young Child Feeding in Hong Kong, which included the participation of 1,588 randomly-selected Chinese parents with children aged from 6 months to 48 months registered at DH's Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs), focused on children's dietary patterns and parents' feeding practices. The survey's key findings were released today (March 14).
According to the survey, the food consumption pattern of children aged 12 months and above was characterised by an inadequate intake of vegetables and fruits, high intake of protein-rich foods and over-dependence on formula milk.
Also, vegetable and fruit intakes were more than 60 per cent and 30 per cent respectively below the recommended level. The proportion of children with meat/fish/egg/legume intakes higher than the recommended level increased with age, from 12.9 per cent in the 12-month group to 34.3 per cent in the 48-month group.
The survey revealed a high consumption of milk by children, with 69.6 per cent in the 12-month-old group, 47.6 per cent in 18-month-old group, 35.7 per cent in the 24-month-old group and 9.9 per cent in 48-month-old group consuming more than the recommended amount of 2 cups (480 ml) per day. Most children consumed formula milk instead of cows' milk, with 94.4 per cent and 79.6 per cent of children in the 24 month-old group and 48 month-old group respectively drinking formula milk.
It was also found that children who drank more milk (mainly formula milk) than the recommended volume generally consumed smaller amounts of grains, vegetables and fruits. Use of the bottle and parents' misconceptions about the nutritional benefits of formula milk might have contributed to the high milk intake and the choice of milk.
Turning to the feeding practices, the survey showed that a fair proportion of parents allowed distractions such as playing toys and television viewing during meal time, and only half of the 18- to 24-month-olds were dining with their family members.
Around 43 per cent of the 9-month-old group and 27 per cent of the 12-month-old group had not been given a cup to try using. Only a fifth of 18-month-olds could use a spoon tidily.
To encourage their children to try new foods, about 50 per cent of parents would demonstrate eating new foods in front of their children; however, only 20 per cent made more than 10 attempts.
Additionally, parents tended not to trust their children's ability to self-regulate food intake, with half believing they should decide how much their children should eat and a substantial proportion never granting their children autonomy in deciding how much to eat. Moreover, parents tended to under-estimate their children's weight, and worried about their children becoming underweight or not eating enough. These worries were associated with controlling feeding practices, such as pressuring their children to eat more.
In view of the above findings, a number of recommendations were put forward and compiled into a range of parent resources to support parents in adopting appropriate dietary and feeding practices.
These include a series of three booklets with DVDs - "Healthy Eating for 6 to 24-month-old Children: (1) Getting Started; (2) Moving On (6-12 months); (3) Ready to Go (12 to 24 months)" and a booklet entitled "7-day Healthy Meal Planning Guide". The materials have been made available in DH's MCHCs and the Family Health Service's website (www.fhs.gov.hk) by phases.
Ends/Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:45
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