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Re: The social facilitation of food intake- A recent experience

Dear Editor,

In your May 2007 Edition we read with interest three original articles relating to childhood nutrition and obesity (1-3). This highlights the importance of this topic and the necessity to take practical steps to address the problem. Lumeng and Hillman (1) observed food consumption in 54 preschool children in a group of three or nine children and conclude that children consumed 30% more food when eating in a group of nine children than when eating in a group of three children. In a perspective on the paper, R F Derwett (4) writes that interactions between children at meal times affects food choice and food preferences, in ways that clearly can be modified. Previous studies have also shown that a peer-modelling and rewards-based intervention was effective in increasing children's fruit and vegetable consumption (5-7).

We have used this principle of ‘the social facilitation of food intake’ to good advantage to encourage children to eat fruits and vegetables in a Primary School setting. One of us (MP) started a FEG club (Fruit and Vegetable Club) as an after school activity in which 7 or 8 primary school children who are reluctant to eat fruits and vegetables are put together with 2 or 3 children who are keen eaters. The club revolves around cooking, tasting and eating raw and prepared items using fruits and vegetables and teaching about the benefits is integrated in a fun way. Weekly targets for consumption of previously untried foods are agreed upon. We are happy to report that we have had success in inducing reluctant consumers to increase their fruit and vegetable intake using the effect of social facilitation. All children who have participated so far have increased their consumption of fruit and vegetables and have also taken this message back to their families who have responded very positively.

We would like to suggest that this model which is simple to deliver is used more widely.

Dr Rajalakshmi Lakshman

MRC Epidemiology Unit
Cambridge

Mrs Mary Pye

Teversham Church of England Primary School
Cambridge

Correspondence to: R Lakshman, MRC Epidemiology Unit, Elsie Widdowson laboratory, 120 Fulbourn Road, Cambridge CB1 9NL; rl284@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Competing interests: None declared

References:

(1) Lumeng JC, Hillman KH. Eating in larger groups increases food consumption. Arch Dis Child 2007; 92(5):384-387.

(2) Hunt LP, Ford A, Sabin MA, Crowne EC, Shield JPH. Clinical measures of adiposity and percentage fat loss: which measure most accurately reflects fat loss and what should we aim for? Arch Dis Child 2007; 92(5):399-403.

(3) Westwood M, Fayter D, Hartley S, Rithalia A, Butler G, Glasziou P et al. Childhood obesity: should primary school children be routinely screened? A systematic review and discussion of the evidence. Arch Dis Child 2007; 92(5):416-422.

(4) Drewett RF. The social facilitation of food intake. Arch Dis Child 2007; 92(5):377.

(5) Horne PJ, Tapper K, Lowe CF, Hardman CA, Jackson MC, Woolner J. Increasing children's fruit and vegetable consumption: a peer-modelling and rewards-based intervention. Eur J Clin Nutr 2004; 58(12):1649-1660.

(6) Lowe CF, Horne PJ, Tapper K, Bowdery M, Egerton C. Effects of a peer modelling and rewards-based intervention to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in children. Eur J Clin Nutr 2004; 58(3):510-522.