The myth and reality of familial resemblance in dietary intake: a systematic review and meta-analysis on the resemblance of dietary intake among parent and offspring

Sonia Pervin; Pauline Emmett; Nick Townsend; Tuhin Biswas; M Mamun Huda; Kate Northstone; Yaqoot Fatima; H David McIntyre; Abdullah Al Mamun

doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102024

The myth and reality of familial resemblance in dietary intake: a systematic review and meta-analysis on the resemblance of dietary intake among parent and offspring

EClinicalMedicine. 2023 Jun 2:60:102024. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102024. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Authors

Sonia Pervin^{1

2}, Pauline Emmett³, Nick Townsend⁴, Tuhin Biswas^{2

5}, M Mamun Huda^{2

6}, Kate Northstone⁷, Yaqoot Fatima^{2

6

8}, H David McIntyre⁹, Abdullah Al Mamun^{2

6}

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
² ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
³ Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK.
⁴ Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Rd, Bristol, S8 1TZ, UK.
⁵ Science and Math Program, Asian University for Women, Chattogram, Bangladesh.
⁶ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, 74 High St, Toowong QLD 4066, Australia.
⁷ Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.
⁸ Centre for Rural and Remote Health, James Cook University, Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia.
⁹ Mater Clinical Unit and Mater Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101, Australia.

Abstract

Background: There is a strong societal belief that parents are role models for their child's dietary behaviours in early life that may persist throughout the life course. Evidence has shown inconclusive dietary resemblance in parent-child (PC) pairs. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine dietary resemblance between parent and children.

Methods: We systematically searched for studies on PC dietary resemblance, via six electronic databases (PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycNet, CINAHL, and Web of Science) and other grey sources of literature between 1980 and 2020. We performed quality effect meta-analysis model on transformed correlation coefficients (z) to examine the resemblance in dietary intakes including nutrient intakes, food group intakes and whole diet. Finally, the Fisher's transformed coefficient (z) was used for meta-regression analysis to identify potential moderators. Heterogeneity and inconsistency were examined using the Q and I² statistic. The study is registered on PROSPERO, CRD42019150741.

Findings: A total of 61 studies met the inclusion criteria for systematic review, 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analyses showed weak to moderate PC dietary intake associations for energy: (r: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.22), fat (% energy): (r: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.29), protein (% energy): (r: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.27), carbohydrate (% energy): (r: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.29), fruits and vegetable (g/d): (r: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.32), confectionary food (g/d): (r: 0.20; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.23), and whole diet (r: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.28, 0.42). Dietary intakes associations by study characteristics, including population, study year, dietary assessment method, person reporting dietary intake, quality of the study, and study design were highly variable, but associations were similar between PC pairs.

Interpretation: The resemblance among parent-child pairs was weak to moderate for most aspects of dietary intakes. These findings challenge the social myth that parental dietary intake behaviour shapes their child's dietary intake.

Funding: None.

Keywords: Dietary behaviours; Dietary resemblance; Family; Parent-child pairs; Whole diet.