Giampieri, Francesca and Leonardi, Alice and Di Costanzo, Giuseppe and Abril-Mera, Tania and Rosi, Alice and Frias-Toral, Evelyn and Ammar, Achraf and Zambrano-Villacres, Raynier and Abdelkarim, Osama and Aly, Mohamed and Pons, Juancho and Vázquez-Araújo, Laura and Maniega Legarda, Fernando and Scuderi, Alessandro and Decembrino, Nunzia and Mata, Ana and Chacón, Adrián and Busó, Pablo and Galvano, Fabio and Bonaccio, Marialaura and Grosso, Giuseppe francesca.giampieri@uneatlantico.es, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED (2026) Parental Decision-Related Factors Are Associated with Discretionary Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Among Children and Adolescents Living in the Mediterranean Area. Nutrients, 18 (13). p. 2128. ISSN 2072-6643
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Nutrition during childhood and adolescence is a key determinant of long-term health, influencing metabolic homeostasis, neurocognitive development, and immune system maturation. Globalization and technological advances have reshaped food production and consumption, increasing the availability of ultra-processed foods (UPF) of low nutritional quality. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental factors, namely food literacy, perceived barriers and enablers, dietary attitudes, and healthy eating behaviors, and the consumption of discretionary UPF among children and adolescents living in 5 Mediterranean countries. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on a survey completed by 2011 parents of children and adolescents aged 6–17 years from 5 Mediterranean countries, who reported on their children’s dietary and lifestyle habits. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed through the KIDMED index. Parental food literacy was measured using the Short Food Literacy Questionnaire (SFLQ). Perceived barriers and enablers were assessed based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, and parents’ attitudes toward their child’s diet were evaluated using the Healthy-Eating Attitudes Questionnaire (HEAQ). Finally, the Theory of Internet Use Related to Health (TIUH) questionnaire was used to assess parents’ tendencies related to health information use online. Results: Higher perceived barriers and enablers were significantly associated with lower discretionary UPF consumption across all models. Parental food literacy (SFLQ) showed a positive association with discretionary UPF consumption, remaining significant in the fully adjusted model, although with reduced magnitude. Healthy-eating attitudes (HEAQ) were initially positively associated with discretionary UPF intake but lost statistical significance after full adjustment. Regarding health-related internet use (TIUH), the Health Information dimension showed a strong positive association with discretionary UPF consumption, while other dimensions (Consciousness and Beliefs) showed inconsistent and non-significant associations in the fully adjusted model. Conclusions: Children’s consumption of discretionary UPF is shaped by several interrelated factors, such as family environment, eating patterns, and parents’ perceptions, rather than solely by knowledge or attitudes.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ultra-processed foods; barriers and enablers; parental attitudes; food literacy; dietary behaviors; nutritional transition; eating habits; children; adolescents |
| Subjects: | Subjects > Nutrition |
| Divisions: | Europe University of Atlantic > Research > Articles and books Universidad Internacional do Cuanza > Research > Articles and books University of La Romana > Research > Scientific Production |
| Depositing User: | Sr Bibliotecario |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Jul 2026 06:22 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Jul 2026 06:22 |
| URI: | https://repositorio.funiber.org/id/eprint/28947 |
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