Eating Style and Food Storage Habits in the Home

Abstract

Two home observations of eating styles and food storage and food cues in eight obese and eight nonobese families were conducted. Obese and nonobese children and their respective obese and nonobese parents were observed at dinner time and assessed on several different eating behaviors. Observers also recorded foods visible in the home and foods found on the first shelves of the freezer, refrigerator, and the most frequently used cupboard. Results did not reveal a different eating style between obese and nonobese families, although obese daughters appeared to eat differently than nonobese daughters. There were also similarities and differences in eating behaviors between children and parents, independent of individuals' weight status. Caloric totals of food storage, visible foods, and calories consumed appeared to be higher in obese households at the first observation, although obese families reduced the quantity of visible foods, and food consumption at observation two. The validity of socially desirable behaviors collected from more than one observation period and implications of the variability of the target behaviors when assessing obese families' eating styles and food habits are discussed.