Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Spanish version of the Home Environment Survey (HES) among families of children with overweight/obesity: a validation study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this article was to validate the Spanish version of the Home Environment Survey (HES-S) and was divided in two studies: (1) to assess the reliability, convergent validity of HES-S in a survey of 145 parents of children with overweight/obesity; (2) to study the magnitude of the association between children’s BMI status with the latent scores theoretically defined by the HES model.

Methods

To test the scale and the model, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and a path analysis were carried out among a sample of 156 parents of preadolescents (106 overweight/obesity and 50 normal-weight children). No CFA or EFA were carried out in the validation of the original instrument.

Results

Study 1, both the Physical Activity and the Eating Habits components of the scale showed adequate levels of internal consistency for the majority of the scales, except for two. One of them, Healthy Eating Parental Policies (HEP) subscale was reduced after excluded two items, although it did not improve substantially. This model indicated that there was a significant association between the two Eating Habits scales and the child’s weight status, but child’s weight was not associated with the Physical Activity components. Convergent validity was confirmed by correlations with related variables: family eating habits (F-EAT), parent’s physical activity (IPAQ), and children’s physical activity (assessed via accelerometers during one week). Study 2, our results replicated the original four factor structure proposed for physical activity (CFI = 0.99; RMSEA = 0.03), but the original factor structure of the eating habits component was not supported. In addition, the relationship of the child’s weight status, the Physical Activity components, and the two scales of Eating Habits (Parental Modeling and Policies) was explored with a path analysis showing good fit indices (CFI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.06). Child’s BMI was negatively associated with Healthy Eating Parental Role Modeling (r =  − 0.21) and with Healthy Eating Parental Policies (r =  − 0.19), but not with the factors of Child’s Physical Activity model.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first instrument to assess obesogenic family environment in Spanish speaking countries, which is a relevant dimension within a health perspective so as to implement new policies and strategies in obesity tertiary prevention. Overall, the confirmatory factor analysis of the HES-S has only provided additional support for one part related to Physical Activity. In addition, Child’s BMI was correlated with scales of Eating Habits but not with Child’s Physical Activity factor. These results clearly suggest that further research is warranted.

Level III

Case-control analytic study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM (2012) Prevalence of obesity and trends in body mass index among US children and adolescents, 1999–2010. JAMA 307(5):483–490. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.40

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Ferreira I, Van Der Horst K, Wendel-Vos W, Kremers S, Van Lenthe FJ, Brug J (2007) Environmental correlates of physical activity in youth—a review and update. Obes rev 8(2):129–154. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2006.00264.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Pinard CA, Yaroch AL, Hart MH, Serrano EL, McFerren MM, Estabrooks PA (2012) Measures of the home environment related to childhood obesity: a systematic review. Pub health nutr 15(1):97–109. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980011002059

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Swinburn B, Egger G, Raza F (1999) Dissecting obesogenic environments: the development and application of a framework for identifying and prioritizing environmental interventions for obesity. Prev Med 29:563–570. https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.1999.0585

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Swinburn BA, Caterson I, Seidell JC, James WPT (2004) Diet, nutrition and the prevention of excess weight gain and obesity. Pub Health Nutr 7(1A):123–146. https://doi.org/10.1079/PHN2003585

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Owen N, Healy GN, Matthews CE, Dunstan DW (2010) Too much sitting: the population health science of sedentary behavior. Exerc Sport Sci 38:105–113. https://doi.org/10.1097/JES.0b013e3181e373a2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Berkey CS, Rockett HR, Field AE, Gillman MW, Frazier AL, Camargo CA, Colditz GA (2000) Activity, dietary intake, and weight changes in a longitudinal study of preadolescent and adolescent boys and girls. Pediatrics 105(4):e56. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.105.4.e56

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Koning M, Hoekstra T, de Jong E, Visscher TL, Seidell JC, Renders CM (2016) Identifying developmental trajectories of body mass index in childhood using latent class growth (mixture) modelling: associations with dietary, sedentary and physical activity behaviors: a longitudinal study. BMC 16(1):1128. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3757-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Davison KK, Birch LL (2001) Childhood overweight: a contextual model and recommendations for future research. Obes rev 2:159–171. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1467-789x.2001.00036.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Golan M, Weizman A (2008) Reliability and validity of the family eating and activity habits questionnaire. Eur J Clin Nutr 52:771–777. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600647

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hanson NI, Neumark-Sztainer D, Eisenberg ME, Story M, Wall M (2005) Associations between parental report of the home food environment and adolescent intakes of fruits, vegetables and dairy foods. Pub Health Nutr 8(1):77–85. https://doi.org/10.1079/PHN2004661

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Bryant MJ, Ward DS, Hales D, Vaughn A, Tabak RG, Stevens J (2008) Reliability and validity of the healthy home survey: a tool to measure factors within homes hypothesized to relate to overweight in children. Int J of Behav Nutr and Phys Act 5:23. https://doi.org/10.1079/PHN2004661

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Gattshall ML, Shoup JA, Marshall JA, Crane LA, Estabrooks PA (2008) Validation of a survey instrument to assess home environments for physical activity and healthy eating in overweight children. Int J of Behav Nutr and Phys Act 5:3. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-5-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH (2000) Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. British Medical J 320:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.320.7244.1240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Balluerka NG, Gorostiaga AA, Alonso-Arbiol I, Aranburu M (2007) La adaptación de instrumentos de medida de unas culturas a otras: una perspectiva práctica. Psicothema 19:124–133

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Cain KL, Sallis JF, Conway TL, Van Dyck D, Calhoon L (2013) Using accelerometers in youth physical activity studies: a review of methods. J Phys Act Health 10(3):473–450. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.10.3.437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Boutelle KN, Fulkerson JA, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, French SA (2007) Fast food for family meals: relationships with parent and adolescent food intake, home food availability and weight status. Public Health Nutr 10(1):16–23. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898000721794X

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Roman-Viñas B, Serra-Majem L, Hagströmer M, Ribas-Barba L, Sjöström M, Segura-Cardona R (2010) International physical activity questionnaire: reliability and validity in a Spanish population. Europ J of Sport Sci 10(5):297–304. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461390903426667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Glickman ME, Rao SR, Schultz MR (2014) False discovery rate control is a recommended alternative to Bonferroni-type adjustments in health studies. J Clin Epidemiol 67(8):850–857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2014.03.012

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Salmon J, Timperio A, Telford A (2005) Association of family environment with children’s television viewing and with low level of physical activity. Obes Res 13:1939–1951. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2005.239

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Salmon J, Ball K, Crawford D, Booth M, Telford A, Hume C (2005) Reducing sedentary behaviour and increasing physical activity among 10 year old children: overview and process evaluation of the “Switch-Play” intervention. Health Promot Int 20:7–17. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dah502

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Robinson T (1999) Reducing children’s television viewing to prevent obesity. JAMA 282:1561–1566. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.282.16.1561

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sepúlveda AR, Solano S, Blanco M, Lacruz T, Veiga O (2020) Feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a multidisciplinary intervention in childhood obesity from primary care: nutrition, physical activity, emotional regulation, and family. Eur Eat Disord Rev 28:184–198. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2702

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Dr. Sepulveda had a postdoctoral Ramon and Cajal scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (RYC-2009-05092) as well as a project funded by the same Ministry (PSI2011-23127). Ms. M. Blanco was awarded with a Research Fellowship (FPU) for students of PhD Programs. Dr. Graell is a member of the Spanish Psychiatric Research Network (CIBERSAM). We express our gratitude to the Daroca Primary Care Center and their pediatricians who collaborated with the recruitment as well as the students and families, school headmasters and teachers who participated in this study. Finally, we would like to acknowledge D. Anastasiadou and J. Barrera for their help with the back translation, and, T. Moreno, and C. Bustos for their involvement in the recruitment and data collection process.

Funding

This work was funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, National Plan R + D + I 2008/11 (PSI2011-23127).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ana R. Sepúlveda, M. Blanco, S. Solano, T. Lacruz, F. J. Román, M. Parks & M. Rojo

  2. Department of Physical Education, Sport and Human Movement, Faculty of Education, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    O. Veiga

  3. Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, University Hospital Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain

    M. Graell

Authors
  1. Ana R. Sepúlveda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Blanco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Solano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T. Lacruz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. F. J. Román
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Parks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. O. Veiga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. M. Rojo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. M. Graell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana R. Sepúlveda.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Autonomous University of Madrid, Child Hospital Niño Jesus and Primary Care Commission.

Informed consent

All participants gave their written informed consent.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sepúlveda, A.R., Blanco, M., Solano, S. et al. The Spanish version of the Home Environment Survey (HES) among families of children with overweight/obesity: a validation study. Eat Weight Disord 26, 2153–2163 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01056-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01056-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation