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Validation of a Checklist to Assess the Home Food Environment of School-aged Children

Equity Focus

This study targets the evaluation of a tool to assess the physical and social home environment in relation to the physical activity and eating habits of an overweight child.

Case Summary

The Home Environment Survey (HES) was developed to reflect availability, accessibility, parental role modelling, and parental policies related to PA resources, fruits and vegetables (F&V), and sugar sweetened drinks and snacks (SS). Parents of overweight children (n = 219) completed the HES and concurrent behavioural assessments. Children completed the Block Kids survey and wore an accelerometer for one week. A subset of parents (n = 156) completed the HES a second time to determine test-retest reliability. The F&V accessibility was reduced to a single item because the other two items did not meet reliability standards. PA accessibility, parent role modelling, and parental policies were all related significantly to child (r = .14–.21) and parent (r = .15–.31) PA. Similarly, availability of F&V and SS, parental role modelling, and parental policies were related to child (r = .14–36) and parent (r =.15–26) eating habits.

Lessons Learned

• The Home Environment Survey shows promise as a potentially valid and reliable assessment of the physical and social home environment related to a child's physical activity and eating habits.

LINK TO CASE STUDY