Father’s teen diet linked to children’s healthy eating habits

Father’s teen diet linked to children’s healthy eating habits | Image Credit: © nadianb – stock.adobe.com.

Fathers’ diets during their teenage years may play a lasting role in shaping the nutritional behaviors of their children, according to findings presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting, NUTRITION 2025. The study showed that young children were more likely to meet recommended fruit and vegetable intake if their fathers had adopted healthier dietary habits during adolescence.

“Our study found that fathers who ate healthier as teenagers were more likely to encourage positive food habits in their children,” said Mariane H. De Oliveira, PhD, lead author and a postdoctoral researcher at Boston College. “These fathers were better at modeling healthy eating—actively demonstrating good dietary habits—and monitoring their child’s intake of unhealthy foods, such as certain sweets and snack foods.”

The research analyzed data from 669 men enrolled in the Growing Up Today Study – Fathers & Families (GUTS-F&F), a sub-study of a 30-year cohort originally launched in the 1990s and 2000s. To be included, participants needed at least two dietary assessments from adolescence (ages 10–18) and at least one child aged 1–6 years as of 2021–2022.

Using the Healthy Eating Index 2020 (HEI-2020) to measure diet quality, researchers identified three distinct adolescent dietary trajectories: Low Adherence (44.1% of participants), Declining Adherence (39.8%), and Increasing Adherence (16.1%). Fathers with increasing adherence to dietary guidelines during adolescence were significantly more likely to later engage in positive food parenting behaviors.

Compared with fathers in the low adherence group, those in the increasing adherence group had 90% greater odds of modeling healthy eating (OR = 1.90, 95% CI [1.23–2.95]) and 60% greater odds of monitoring their child’s intake of unhealthy foods (OR = 1.60, 95% CI [1.05–2.45]).

This also translated into improved outcomes for their children. Among the offspring of fathers with improved adolescent diet quality, 62% met fruit intake recommendations and 38% met vegetable intake recommendations. This compares to 54% and 29% among children of fathers in the low adherence group, and 53% and 23% among those in the declining adherence group.^1,2

“Healthy eating habits formed during adolescence not only benefit individuals but also shape future parenting behaviors, contributing to better nutrition for the next generation,” said De Oliveira. “This is especially significant given the growing concerns around childhood obesity and poor dietary habits. Investing in adolescent nutrition, including for boys, can have lasting, intergenerational benefits.”

In addition to dietary and parenting data, the study accounted for sociodemographic characteristics, including age, educational attainment, and ethnicity. More than 90% of the study population identified as white, and over 80% had at least a bachelor’s degree. Researchers acknowledged that this demographic homogeneity may limit the generalizability of the findings.

The study also assessed the potential influence of eating family meals during adolescence but found that this factor did not significantly contribute to healthier dietary behaviors later in life. Further, while the study focused on fathers’ dietary and parenting behaviors, it did not include information on maternal eating habits or their influence.

The findings were presented in the “Breastfeeding, Nutrition, and Early Life Health” session at NUTRITION 2025 and supported by funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

References:

1. American Society for Nutrition. Quality of kids’ diets linked with dad’s eating habits as a teen. Eurekalert. May 31, 2025. Accessed June 13, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1084811

2. De Oliveira MH, Grafft NH, Park IY, et al. Preconception Diet Quality Trajectories and Food Parenting Among Fathers. Abstract. Presented at: Nutrition 2025. Orlando Florida. May 31-June 3, 2025.