The Research On Children’s Eating Behavior Of Kindergarten In Quanzhou Area And Its Influencing Factors

Purpose: The paper is to discuss children’s eating behavior of kindergarten inQuanzhou area and its influencing factors and to understand the impact of children’seating behavior on their health; It will also discuss the influences of targetedintervention on diet behavior problems and try to provide a scientific reason for ahealthy diet guidance of the children in Quanzhou.Methods: Stratified cluster random sampling from1804children in childcarefacilities in Quanzhou was adopted for their eating behavior by means ofquestionnaire, physical measurement, peripheral blood hemoglobin determination.The investigation was done by randomly selecting303children for diet intervention,and to assess children’s eating behavior according to one more time questionnairecarried out three months after the intervention. SPSS13.0statistical software is usedfor analysis of data.Results: The regularity of children’s dining in childcare facilities of the Quanzhouarea was generally good but with higher incidence of inappropriate eatingbehavior—38.9%of the children dependent on adult-feeding,34.7%eating whilewatching TV, listening to music or playing with toys, with24.5%children pickyeating. Most children’s diet structures are relatively balanced.20.6%of the parentsfrequently criticize and educate their children at meal time, and8.6%often forced topunish children for eating more;21.9%of the parents losed their temper, whichcaused by their children’s bad eating habits. parents’ educational level, parentsoccupation and dining atmosphere affected children’s eating behavior. These factorsaffect children’s health: eating while picky eating, poor appetite, a large amount oftime spent on each meal. The meal regularity from Minnan cadastral children groupwere better, while eating dairy and balanced diet were better than non-Minnancadastral children group; no obvious difference between the two groups was seen interms of eating habits, poor appetite, eating snacks and drinking beverages. Aftertargeted diet intervention, children’s meal regularity was improved, the phenomena ofeating while watching TV, playing toys, and walking while playing were reduced;more uptake of dairy products and less snacks. The number of parents who educatedand criticized their children during dine time, or worried about their children’s bad appetite was decreased. Nevertheless, there was no statistically significant differencesranging from time taken for each meal, eating dependent on adults-feeding, with rice,without chewing solid food, poor appetite, picky eating, and drinking beveragesbefore and after intervention.Conclusion: Children’s eating problems commonly exist with different situations indifferent areas. And comparatively speaking children from Quanzhou area have betterand more balanced diet than those who are not. But there still exists poor dietbehaviors and inadequate eating atmosphere. Family environment affects children’seating behaviors; Children’s eating behavior affect children’s health; The mealregularity from Minnan cadastral children group is better, while eating dairy andbalanced diet are better than non-Minnan cadastral children group.Health educationcan change the way parents educate their children, correct their unhealthy dietarybehaviors and can promote health.