Abstract
Background
There is little information about how diet quality evolves in early childhood, whether
children exhibit varying diet quality trajectories, or which components of diet quality
should be targeted for intervention.
Objective
The goal of this study was to identify and evaluate trajectories of dietary quality
in young children.
Design
This was a secondary analysis of an observational, longitudinal cohort study of non-Hispanic
African American or White children and their parents from racially concordant households
with 4 years of follow-up (up to 13 study visits). Data on mother, infant feeding,
and body mass index were assessed at baseline. Diet was evaluated using 3-day diaries
at each visit.
Participants/setting
Of 372 children enrolled, 349 children had at least 3 study visits with dietary data
for this analysis. Participants were enrolled at age 3 years between March 2001 and
August 2002 in Cincinnati, OH. Final study visits were conducted between February
2005 and June 2006.
Main outcome measure
The main outcome measure was the total Healthy Eating Index 2005 (HEI-2005) score
and HEI-2005 component scores.
Statistical analyses
Diet quality trajectories were modeled using group-based modeling techniques.
Results
The total HEI-2005 score was low at age 3 years (mean ± standard error = 55.1 ± 0.4
of maximum 100 points) and remained stable to age 7 years (mean ± standard error =
54.0 ± 0.6; P = 0.08 for trend). Five HEI-2005 trajectory groups were identified, of which 1 declined
and 1 improved over time. HEI-2005 component scores, except milk intake and meat/beans
scores, differed significantly (all, P ≤ 0.02) among trajectory groups at age 3 years, and most differences were maintained
at age 7 years. Total vegetables, dark green and orange vegetables and legumes, and
whole grains component scores were low for all trajectory groups. Whole fruit; total
fruit; saturated fat; and calories from solid fats, alcoholic beverages, and added
sugars (SoFAAS) were highly variable among trajectory groups. Children in the lowest
diet quality trajectory group were less likely to be breastfed and more likely to
have been regular consumers of soft drinks (e.g., powdered drink mixes, sport drinks,
or soda pop) before age 3 years.
Conclusions
Young childhood diet quality was low at age 3 years and remained stable to age 7 years.
Improving intake of vegetables and whole grains is needed for all children. Focused
attention regarding increasing fruit intake and reducing SoFAAS may be needed for
families at increased risk for low overall diet quality.
Keywords
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Biography
J. G. Woo is a professor, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
Biography
K. Reynolds is a medical student, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH.
Biography
S. Summer is a clinical research manager, Clinical Translational Research Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
Biography
P. R. Khoury is a senior biostatistician, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
Biography
S. R. Daniels is a professor and chair, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.
Biography
H. J. Kalkwarf is a professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 24, 2020
Accepted:
August 21,
2020
Received:
January 28,
2020
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT This study was originally funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01 HL064022). Funding for this secondary analysis was provided by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training grant (5UL1TR001425-04). The sponsor did not participate in the design, analysis, interpretation, or decision to publish this work.
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS J. G. Woo conceived the idea, designed and conducted the analysis, wrote the first draft of the manuscript. K. Reynolds contributed to the design and analysis, contributed to the first draft of the manuscript. S. Summer analyzed the dietary data in the original study and assisted with interpretation of results. Philip R. Khoury conducted analyses and assisted with interpretation of results. S. R. Daniels was responsible for the original data collection and assisted with interpretation of results. H. J. Kalkwarf was responsible for body composition data collection in the original study, and was involved in interpretation of results. All authors contributed to revisions of the manuscript, and reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript before submission.
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© 2021 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
