Citation
Ford, Christopher N.; Slining, Meghan M.; & Popkin, Barry M. (2013). Trends in Dietary Intake among US 2- to 6-Year-Old Children, 1989-2008. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 113(1), 35-42.e6. PMCID: PMC3531045Abstract
BACKGROUND: Between 1989 and 2008, obesity increased markedly in children of all ages. We examined changes in the diets of children ages 2 to 6 years in the United States between 1989 and 2008. Our study provides new insight into diet changes that might have contributed to the sharp rise in obesity during this period.OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to describe changes in diet among 2- to 6-year-old children from 1989 to 2008 related to sharp rises in obesity during this period.
PARTICIPANTS: This analysis included 10,647 children ages 2 to 6 years from the following five nationally representative surveys of dietary intake in the United States: Continuing Survey of Food Intake in Individuals 1989-1991 and 1994-1998 and the What We Eat In America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2003-2004, 2005-2006, and 2007-2008. Diet data were categorized into groupings using the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill approach.
STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Analyses were carried out using a single 24-hour dietary recall with appropriate survey weighting. T tests were used to compare means across survey years, with P<0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: During the 20-year period, there were increases in per capita intake of savory snacks (+51 kcal; P<0.01), pizza/calzones (+32 kcal; P<0.01), sweet snacks and candy (+25 kcal; P<0.01), mixed Mexican dishes (+22 kcal; P<0.01), and fruit juice (+18 kcal; P<0.01), and total daily energy intake increased by 109 kcal (from 1,475 to 1,584 kcal) (P<0.05). Fruit intake increased marginally (+24 kcal; P<0.01). Six of the 10 greatest absolute changes in per capita intake between sequential survey years occurred between Continuing Survey of Food Intake in Individuals 1994-1998 and National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2003-2004 (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Foods high in added sugars and solid fats, such as savory snacks, pizza/calzones, mixed Mexican dishes, sweet snacks and candy, and fruit juice, predominated the top changes in per capita consumption between 1989 and 2008.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.08.022Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2013Journal Title
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsAuthor(s)
Ford, Christopher N.Slining, Meghan M.
Popkin, Barry M.