Choi Yoon Y, Hyary Maia, Fleming-Milici Frances, Harris Jennifer L
Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, University of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS) Workforce Institute, Research Foundation of The City University of New York, New York, New York, USA.
Pediatr Obes. 2021 Oct;16(10):e12797. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12797. Epub 2021 May 5.
Children's fast-food consumption increases risks for obesity and other diet-related diseases. To address concerns, from 2010 to 2016 U.S. fast-food restaurants implemented voluntary policies to offer healthier drinks and/or sides with kids' meals.
Examine the effectiveness of voluntary kids' meal policies.
Online repeated cross-sectional survey (2010, 2013, 2016) of U.S. caregivers (N = 2093) who purchased fast-food for their child (2-11 years) in the past week. Logistic regression examined associations between healthier kids' meal policy implementation and caregivers' purchases of kids' meals and selection of healthier sides and drinks. Separate models investigated caregivers' attitudes about McDonald's kids' meal items.
Overall, 55% of caregivers reported choosing a kids' meal for their child, and approximately one-half of those caregivers selected a healthier drink and/or side. Healthier kids' meal policy implementation was associated with increased selection of healthier sides, but not healthier drinks or choice of kids' meals over higher-calorie menu items. Child's age, caregiver gender and visit frequency were significant in most models. Caregivers' perceptions that their child(ren) like healthier drinks and sides were positively associated with selection of those items.
Existing healthier kids' meal policies may not improve children's fast-food consumption. Public health initiatives should examine more effective alternatives.
儿童食用快餐会增加肥胖及其他与饮食相关疾病的风险。为解决这些问题，2010年至2016年期间，美国的快餐店实施了自愿政策，为儿童套餐提供更健康的饮品和/或配菜。
研究儿童套餐自愿政策的有效性。
对过去一周为其2至11岁孩子购买过快餐的美国看护人（N = 2093）进行在线重复横断面调查（2010年、2013年、2016年）。逻辑回归分析了更健康的儿童套餐政策实施与看护人购买儿童套餐以及选择更健康配菜和饮品之间的关联。单独的模型研究了看护人对麦当劳儿童套餐项目的态度。
总体而言，55%的看护人报告为孩子选择了儿童套餐，其中约一半的看护人选择了更健康的饮品和/或配菜。更健康的儿童套餐政策实施与选择更健康配菜的增加有关，但与选择更健康饮品或选择儿童套餐而非高热量菜单项目无关。在大多数模型中，孩子的年龄、看护人性别和光顾频率具有显著意义。看护人认为孩子喜欢更健康的饮品和配菜与选择这些项目呈正相关。
现有的更健康儿童套餐政策可能无法改善儿童的快餐消费情况。公共卫生倡议应研究更有效的替代方案。
