The Influence of Caregivers and Meal Decision Makers on the Nutritional Content of Fast Foods Purchased for Children

Fast food consumption has been shown to contribute to excess caloric intake and the development of obesity. Interventions that target key contributors to meal decisions have been suggested as a means for improving the foods that children select. Research suggests important points of intervention may be accompanying caregivers or meal decision makers. However, little is known about which caregivers accompany children to fast food restaurants and to what extent they influence meal purchases. The objective of this project was to determine whether there are differences in the caloric and nutritional content of foods purchased for children at fast food restaurants by categories of caregiver (e.g., mother, father, grandparent) or their characteristics (e.g., gender, BMI) or by meal decision makers (i.e., child, caregiver, or joint).

Materials Available

• Abstract

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Project Type(s): Master's Thesis

Author(s): Doris Chung

Program(s): Master of Public Health, RDN Training

Year: 2014

Adviser(s):

• Jennifer Otten