Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Kimberly G. Dixon-Lawson

Abstract

Families living in an inequitable food environment are impacted by limited access to healthier foods inventory. Habitual consumption of foods lacking adequate nutritional value increasingly contributes to the heightened prevalence of obesity and premature death from non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. This basic qualitative analysis examined factors that impact parental decisions in food choices among obese and overweight children. The study explores the level of understanding held by low-income parents/caregivers as it relates to basic nutritional knowledge. Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory framed the study. A purposeful sample of eight parents/caregiver between the age of 18-50, parenting at least one overweight or obese child, and living in targeted zip codes offered primary data through semi-structured open-ended interviews. Data were analyzed thematically and produced the following eight themes related to: distance and food shopping, value placed on available food selections, work schedule limitations to fruits and vegetables, cultural influences on feeding patterns, meeting the challenge in menu structure, importance of portion control, after school snacking, and adaptability. This study provides results that may provide a better understanding into the need for better informed parental understanding on healthy meal preparation, eating practices, and nutritional knowledge. These findings underscore the importance of sufficient community supermarket access to help reduce health risks and premature deaths related to consuming inadequate nutrients. Such innovative steps could result in positive social change for the entire community.

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