"And suddenly it's no longer just about a cookie"
- 16.01.2023
- English Articles
- Tina Bartelmeß
Peer reviewed / Manuscript (original) received: 27 July 2022 / Revision accepted: 09 November 2022
Sugar as a subject of discussion in online parent forums
Introduction
In all societies, certain cultural beliefs shape how to engage with potential risk factors for health. In recent decades, sugar has attained the status of a "risk factor" for health through scientific and health policy discourses on nutrition in affluent countries [1].
Particularly children come into focus: according to data from the KIGGS Wave 2, in Germany about 15% of children aged 3 to 17 are overweight and almost 6% are obese [2, 3]. From a nutritional science perspective, sugar is regarded as a significant risk factor for obesity, as the consumption of sugary foods and beverages may quickly lead to a positive daily energy balance [4]. Moreover, it is scientifically discussed that excessive consumption may also promote the development of other diseases, such as caries, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases [5]. ....
Abstract
The social debate around children's sugar consumption has found its way into everyday discussions among parents. In this study, sugar discussions in online parent forums were analysed to identify parents' everyday cultural concepts of sugar in children's diets. The results indicate that parents' discussions about sugar in their children's diets focus less on health promotion than on the negotiation of parental identity, authority, and control, as well as on assumptions about the influence of food parenting styles on children's opportunities to participate in the respective food culture. Throughout the different stages of childhood, parents are exposed to various challenges in which they must continuously legitimise and adjust their food parenting practices. The results of the study provide implications for nutrition research, communication, and education.
Keywords: parents, sugar, food parenting practices, child nutrition, subjective health concepts, online discussion forums, food sociology, food culture
