ARS | Publication request: CHARACTERISTICS, DIETARY ASSESSMENT, AND FOOD SOURCES OF CHILDREN BY BODY WEIGHT STATUS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 19, 2004
Publication Date: April 18, 2004
Citation: Anderson, E.T., Goldman, J.D., Moshfegh, A.J. 2004. Characteristics, dietary assessment, and food sources of children by body weight status [abstract]. Experimental Biology 2004 Abstracts. Part 1. p. A167.

Technical Abstract: Medical experts have declared obesity to be a major health problem in the U.S. Some studies suggest overweight children tend to have increased risk for disease as adults. Our objective was to describe characteristics and dietary habits of overweight/at risk children and non-overweight children. The sample consisted of 2863 children, aged 6-18, who participated in the USDA Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals 1994-96, 1998. Children with a body mass index (BMI)-for-age percentile > 85th percent were classified as overweight/at risk, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control. From the data, we estimated that 29% of children were overweight/at risk. Socio-demographic characteristics such as lower household income, Black or Hispanic ethnicity, and more frequent TV watching were generally related with overweight/at risk children. The mean contribution to total energy intake by fat was higher for overweight/at risk children, but average daily energy intake was similar in both groups. Most children failed to meet recommendations for fat and calcium intake. About 65% of all children reported eating foods away from home. The percentage of daily energy intake (~30%) contributed by away from home foods was similar in both groups. These results suggest that certain socio-demographic characteristics influence a child's weight status. While average daily calories were similar, the macronutrient sources of calories were different between overweight/at risk and non-overweight children.