Young children's knowledge about healthy food may influence the formation of their eating behaviours, and parents have a major influence on the development of children's knowledge in the early years.

We investigated the extent to which parental nutrition knowledge and attitudes around food predicted young children's knowledge of healthy foods, controlling for other influences such as socio-economic status (SES) and parent education levels in a cross-sectional research design. Children were given a healthy food knowledge activity and parents completed questionnaires.

Twenty primary schools in Adelaide, Australia, stratified by SES.

We recruited 192 children aged 5–6 years and their parents.

Structural equation modelling showed that parent nutrition knowledge predicted children's nutrition knowledge (r = 0·30, P < 0·001) independently of attitudes, SES and education level.

Nutrition education for parents, targeted at low-SES areas at higher risk for obesity, may contribute to the development of healthy food knowledge in young children.

The present study examined the association of serum ferritin with CHD risk using the Framingham Heart Study's 10-year risk algorithm.

Ordinal logistic regression modelling was used to interpret risk. Proportional odds modelling assessed four divisions of ranked CHD risk (4, high; 3, increased; 2, slight; 1, minimal), separately by sex.

Baltimore, MD, USA.

African-American and white participants (n 1823) from baseline of the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study, aged 30–64 years.

For men, there was a 0·5 % increase in risk for every 10-unit rise in serum ferritin (pmol/l). Other significant predictors included increased BMI, white race, unemployment and C-reactive protein ≥9·5 mg/l. For women, there was a 5·1 % increase in risk per 10-unit rise in serum ferritin (pmol/l). Other significant predictors included increased BMI, lower education, unemployment and C-reactive protein ≥9·5 mg/l.

Serum ferritin is a significant predictor of 10-year hard CHD risk for HANDLS study participants, a low-income, urban population. Serum ferritin, independent of elevated C-reactive protein, was associated with increased 10-year CHD risk for HANDLS participants. To our knowledge, these data provide the first evidence of the role of serum ferritin as a risk factor for hard CHD in African-American and white postmenopausal women in the USA. Future research on cardiovascular events from this prospective study may confirm the association.

As further understanding is required of what behavioural factors are associated with long-term weight-loss success, the aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of successful weight loss 15 months post-enrolment in a commercial web-based weight-loss programme and which behavioural factors were associated with success.

An online survey was completed 15 months post-enrolment in a commercial web-based weight-loss programme to assess weight-related behaviours and current weight. Participants were classified as successful if they had lost ≥5 % of their starting weight after 15 months.

Commercial users of a web-based weight-loss programme.

Participants enrolled in the commercial programme between August 2007 and May 2008. Six hundred and seventy-seven participants completed the survey.

The median (interquartile range) weight change was −2·7 (−8·2, 1·6) % of enrolment weight, with 37 % achieving ≥5 % weight loss. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found success was associated with frequency of weight self-monitoring, higher dietary restraint score, lower emotional eating score, not skipping meals, not keeping snack foods in the house and eating takeaway foods less frequently.

The findings suggest that individuals trying to achieve or maintain ≥5 % weight loss should be advised to regularly weigh themselves, avoid skipping meals or keeping snack foods in the house, limit the frequency of takeaway food consumption, manage emotional eating and strengthen dietary restraint. Strategies to assist individuals make these changes to behaviour should be incorporated within obesity treatments to improve the likelihood of successful weight loss in the long term.

Treatment for childhood obesity is characterised by high attrition rates and failure to achieve weight maintenance. It is therefore important to develop more effective programmes. The aim of the present qualitative study was to explore the views of parents, children and health trainers to identify issues which can inform the development of more effective programmes.

A qualitative study combining in-depth interviews and focus groups. Participants were selected purposively from current and past attendees.

WATCH-IT, a UK-based community child weight management programme.

Twenty-three families who had previously attended (or were currently attending) WATCH-IT were interviewed. Focus groups with ten trainers explored their views of the intervention.

Parents and children had different goals for involvement, with parents focusing on psychological benefits, while children concentrated on goals relating to weight loss and physical fitness. Parents were found to struggle to provide consistent support to their children and this was exacerbated by family dynamics. The child's commitment to lose weight, support from their family and a good relationship between the child and their trainer were viewed as important keys to successful weight management.

The study will guide the design of existing and future programmes by providing insights into issues that challenge successful engagement. It highlights the possible value of exploring the therapeutic relationship between trainers and participants.

The objective of the present research was to test the efficacy of Fruit & Veg $ense sessions in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.

A wait-list randomised controlled trial was conducted (n 292). Intervention participants attended a Fruit & Veg $ense session and received newsletters at weeks 2 and 5 after attending the session. All participants completed an FFQ and a questionnaire measuring knowledge, attitudes, barriers and stage of change for fruit and vegetable consumption at baseline and 6 weeks.

Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia.

Two hundred and ninety-two parents with children of primary school age.

The intervention group significantly increased its mean consumption of fruit and vegetables by 0·62 servings compared with 0·11 in the control group (difference of 0·51, P = 0·001). Compared with the control group, there were significant increases in intervention participants’ knowledge of daily recommended servings (for fruit and vegetables) and serving size (for vegetables), improvement in stage of change for vegetable consumption and a decrease in the number of perceived barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption.

Fruit & Veg $ense is efficacious in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among parents of primary-school children. The study adds significantly to the limited evidence regarding fruit and vegetable interventions and the feasibility of engaging peer educators to deliver community education sessions. A broader implementation trial to test the effectiveness of Fruit & Veg $ense is recommended.