Abstract
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.
Keywords
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Biography
C. N. Ford is a research assistant and doctoral student, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Biography
M. M. Slining is a research assistant professor, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Biography
B. M. Popkin is W. R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 20, 2012
Accepted:
August 13,
2012
Footnotes
FUNDING/SUPPORT Funding for this study comes from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Grant 67506) and the National Institutes of Health (R01 HL104580 and CPC 5 R24 HD050924).
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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© 2013 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
