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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #140616
Title: ARE CHILDREN CONSUMING MORE FOOD TODAY THAN YESTERDAY?

Author
item Nicklas, Theresa
item Demory-Luce, Debby
item YANG, SU-JAU - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item Baranowski, Thomas
item ZAKERI, ISSA - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item BERENSON, GERALD - TULANE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2002
Publication Date: 3/20/2002
Citation: Nicklas TA, Demory-Luce D, Yang SJ, Baranowski T, Zakeri I, Berenson G. 2002. Are children consuming more food today than yesterday? Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. 16(4):A659.

Interpretive Summary: AN INTERPRETIVE SUMMARY IS NOT REQUIRED.

Technical Abstract: Food consumption patterns were examined among 10-year-old children from 1973 to 1994. Twenty-four hour dietary recalls were collected on a total of 1584 children who participated in one of seven cross-sectional surveys; with each cohort representing a black-white composition of 65% and 35%, respectively. In terms of mean gram amount, children consumed significantly more fruit/fruit juices (p<0.01), mixed meats (p<0.01), poultry (p<0.0001), cheese (p<0.0001) and sweetened/unsweetened beverages (p<0.001) in 1994 compared to 1973. In contrast, children consumed significantly less gram amount of eggs (p<0.001), desserts (p<0.0001) fats/oils (p<0.0001), breads/grains (p<0.05) and candy (p<0.0001) during this same time period. The mean gram amount of lunch and dinner consumed increased (p<0.0001) but snacks decreased (p<0.0001), resulting in no change in total gram amount consumed in a 24-hour period. Understanding trends in food consumption patterns and amounts of foods consumed by children is important to consider in the design and implementation of population-based behavioral strategies for the promotion of health and prevention of chronic disease.