title: Validation of the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) in the population of Saudi preschoolers

authors: Alhamad, Ali Hamad

abstract: The Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) is a multi-dimensional questionnaire filled out by parents to determine the characteristics of eating behaviour of their children and, consequently, children’s propensity to become obese. It assesses eating habits that contribute to childhood obesity. It has been successfully validated mainly in countries of Western-type eating habits, but not in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else in the Middle East, where obesity has become a significant health problem. In the current study, the CEBQ factor structure and reliability were assessed in a sample of Saudi preschoolers aged 2-6 years. In addition, the associations between children's BMI z-scores, eating behaviours and parental weight were examined. Parents of 200 Saudi preschool children (100 boys and 100 girls) completed the Arabic version of the CEBQ. BMI of children and parents, and parental educational levels were collected. The BMI of every child was calculated and converted to BMI z-score. Factor analyses on all the CEBQ items were performed and the differences between genders and age groups were examined. Correlations between children's BMI z-scores and eating behaviours were analysed using linear regression, controlling for age, gender, parental educational levels and parental weight. The factor analysis revealed an eight-factor solution similar to the theoretical factor structure, with good internal reliability and acceptable correlations between subscales. Boys scored slightly higher than girls on food responsiveness, whereas no difference between age groups was found. Significant and positive associations between BMI z-scores and “food approach” subscales, food responsiveness, enjoyment of food and emotional overeating were found, while “food avoidant” subscales, satiety responsiveness and slowness in eating, had significant inverse relationships with BMI z-scores. Maternal BMI had strong positive associations with BMI z-scores and food responsiveness, whereas paternal BMI had no effect on BMI z-scores or eating behaviours of children. The current data suggest that the CEBQ is a valid psychometric tool that can be reliably used to assess eating behaviour characteristics in Saudi preschool children. The results derived from this study can be useful in understanding the aetiology of overweight and obesity in pre-school children in regard to their eating behaviours.

text: Validation of the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) in the population of Saudi preschoolers The Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) is a multi-dimensional questionnaire filled out by parents to determine the characteristics of eating behaviour of their children and, consequently, children’s propensity to become obese. It assesses eating habits that contribute to childhood obesity. It has been successfully validated mainly in countries of Western-type eating habits, but not in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else in the Middle East, where obesity has become a significant health problem. In the current study, the CEBQ factor structure and reliability were assessed in a sample of Saudi preschoolers aged 2-6 years. In addition, the associations between children's BMI z-scores, eating behaviours and parental weight were examined. Parents of 200 Saudi preschool children (100 boys and 100 girls) completed the Arabic version of the CEBQ. BMI of children and parents, and parental educational levels were collected. The BMI of every child was calculated and converted to BMI z-score. Factor analyses on all the CEBQ items were performed and the differences between genders and age groups were examined. Correlations between children's BMI z-scores and eating behaviours were analysed using linear regression, controlling for age, gender, parental educational levels and parental weight. The factor analysis revealed an eight-factor solution similar to the theoretical factor structure, with good internal reliability and acceptable correlations between subscales. Boys scored slightly higher than girls on food responsiveness, whereas no difference between age groups was found. Significant and positive associations between BMI z-scores and “food approach” subscales, food responsiveness, enjoyment of food and emotional overeating were found, while “food avoidant” subscales, satiety responsiveness and slowness in eating, had significant inverse relationships with BMI z-scores. Maternal BMI had strong positive associations with BMI z-scores and food responsiveness, whereas paternal BMI had no effect on BMI z-scores or eating behaviours of children. The current data suggest that the CEBQ is a valid psychometric tool that can be reliably used to assess eating behaviour characteristics in Saudi preschool children. The results derived from this study can be useful in understanding the aetiology of overweight and obesity in pre-school children in regard to their eating behaviours.

year: 2013

title: The working life of John McCraw (1925-2014): a remarkable New Zealand pedologist and Earth scientist

authors: Nelson, Campbell S.

abstract: John McCraw was an Earth scientist who began working as a pedologist with Soil Bureau, DSIR, then became the Foundation Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, inspiring a new generation to study and work in Earth sciences, a discipline he introduced into the tertiary education system in New Zealand. In retirement, he was an author and historian with a special emphasis on Central Otago as well as the Waikato region. Throughout his career, marked especially by meritorious leadership, accomplished administration, and commitment to his staff and students at the University of Waikato, John McCraw also contributed widely to the communities in which he lived through public service organizations and as a public speaker. He received a number of awards including an MBE, fellowship, and companionship, and, uniquely, is commemorated also with a glacier, a fossil, and a museum-based research room named for him. The Earth sciences programme today as an integral part of the School of Science at the University of Waikato is stronger than ever. In the past few years several new staff have been appointed, both academic and technical, giving the largest-ever Earth sciences team of about 30 staff. As well as research-led teaching, Earth sciences has strong research groups, at the cores of which are doctoral and masterate students, and postdoctoral fellows, to carry on the work envisaged by John McCraw all those years ago. This thriving continuation of our discipline, which has always had strong multidisciplinary linkages with other sciences, is − alongside the countless students he has taught and inspired − surely his greatest legacy.

text: The working life of John McCraw (1925-2014): a remarkable New Zealand pedologist and Earth scientist John McCraw was an Earth scientist who began working as a pedologist with Soil Bureau, DSIR, then became the Foundation Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, inspiring a new generation to study and work in Earth sciences, a discipline he introduced into the tertiary education system in New Zealand. In retirement, he was an author and historian with a special emphasis on Central Otago as well as the Waikato region. Throughout his career, marked especially by meritorious leadership, accomplished administration, and commitment to his staff and students at the University of Waikato, John McCraw also contributed widely to the communities in which he lived through public service organizations and as a public speaker. He received a number of awards including an MBE, fellowship, and companionship, and, uniquely, is commemorated also with a glacier, a fossil, and a museum-based research room named for him. The Earth sciences programme today as an integral part of the School of Science at the University of Waikato is stronger than ever. In the past few years several new staff have been appointed, both academic and technical, giving the largest-ever Earth sciences team of about 30 staff. As well as research-led teaching, Earth sciences has strong research groups, at the cores of which are doctoral and masterate students, and postdoctoral fellows, to carry on the work envisaged by John McCraw all those years ago. This thriving continuation of our discipline, which has always had strong multidisciplinary linkages with other sciences, is − alongside the countless students he has taught and inspired − surely his greatest legacy.

year: 2015

title: An evaluation of Te Rau Puawai workforce 100: Addressing the recruitment and retention of Maori students in tertiary education institutions: A literature review

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: Maori students

abstract: To evaluate the Te Rau Puawai programme, the Ministry of Health commissioned the
Maori and Psychology Research Unit of the University of Waikato in July 2001. The
overall aim of the evaluation was to provide the Ministry with a clearer understanding
of the programme including: the perceived critical success factors, the barriers if any
regarding Te Rau Puawai, the impact of the programme, the extent to which the
programme may be transferable, gaps in the programme, and suggested
improvements.
To achieve this end, a review of relevant literature was undertaken to provide a
framework to understand the patterns that arose from the information that we
collected as part of this evaluation.
The review of literature is presented in this technical report.

text: An evaluation of Te Rau Puawai workforce 100: Addressing the recruitment and retention of Maori students in tertiary education institutions: A literature review To evaluate the Te Rau Puawai programme, the Ministry of Health commissioned the
Maori and Psychology Research Unit of the University of Waikato in July 2001. The
overall aim of the evaluation was to provide the Ministry with a clearer understanding
of the programme including: the perceived critical success factors, the barriers if any
regarding Te Rau Puawai, the impact of the programme, the extent to which the
programme may be transferable, gaps in the programme, and suggested
improvements.
To achieve this end, a review of relevant literature was undertaken to provide a
framework to understand the patterns that arose from the information that we
collected as part of this evaluation.
The review of literature is presented in this technical report.

year: 2002-05-01