pdf [5.3MB] - Department of Families, Housing, Community Services

2.1 LITERATURE FINDINGS2.1.1 HEALTH OUTCOMESNFF can naturally have short term impacts on health and these are relatively easy toestimate from Australian data sources. For example, the health impacts of child abuse thatresults in immediate injuries has been estimated in Taylor et al (2008). However, short termhealth impacts for children due to NFF may lead to long term impacts on their futureproductivity through reduced educational achievement as a result of cognitive problems andnon-attendance at school (Stam 2005).In addition, studies of the impacts of FF on medium to long term health outcomes of childrenshow affects in a number of areas (which can be harder to estimate), including: eating disorders; substance abuse; and anxiety, depression and psychological issues.Different aspects of eating disorders have been examined in the literature. Parentalinfluence was reported to have a significant role in determining the preferences and choicesfor different types of food in their children (Hill 2002; Benton, 2004). These preferences werehypothesised by Benton (2004) to have a significant role in determining the development ofobesity. Parents, peers and siblings act as role models encouraging the tasting of novelfoods, although forcing a child to eat a certain type of food had a negative impact on theirpreference. Hill (2002) discussed very similar qualitative findings in the determination ofpreferences, with some negative impacts of parental techniques observed in developing foodpreferences. Further to this, tactics such as the use of fatty foods as treats after a healthyfood has been consumed, only reinforced some foods being viewed in a negative way bychildren.Apart from tactics employed by parents that aim to instil food preferences in children, Ringerand Crittenden (2007) examined correlations between eating disorders and familyattachment. Qualitative findings from this study showed that children who were less attachedto their parents had higher rates of eating disorders.Snoek et al (2007) agreed that parents influence their children’s emotional eating behaviourthrough role modelling processes. This study showed that higher maternal support wasassociated with lower emotional eating in younger adolescents while higher psychologicalcontrol was associated with higher emotional eating in younger and older adolescents.Parental influences were also shown to have a significant impact on rates of substanceabuse (alcohol, drug and cigarette smoking addictions). Garmiene et al (2006) showed thatjoint family activity time deficit together with parents who smoke or drink excessivelyunderlies the development of alcohol and smoking additions in children. Maternal influencewas a strong factor for the uptake of smoking by sons (OR = 2.50, 95% CI 1.11-5.64). Sonsappeared to be influenced (to a greater extent) in their consumption of alcohol by theirparents, particularly by their father (Table 2-1).12