Usual Intakes of Food Pattern Components by U.S. Children: WWEIA, NHANES 2013-2016

Authors: Martin, Carrie; Steinfeldt, Lois; Goldman, Joseph; Moshfegh, Alanna

Submitted to: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/23/2021
Publication Date: 6/25/2021
Citation: Martin, C.L., Steinfeldt, L.C., Goldman, J.D., Moshfegh, A.J. 2021. Usual Intakes of Food Pattern Components by U.S. Children: WWEIA, NHANES 2013-2016. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2021.104063.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2021.104063

Interpretive Summary: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) 2015-2020 recommend people of all ages follow a healthy eating pattern in order to prevent diet-related chronic disease. Using national dietary intake data from 2013-2016, this research presents results on whether children age 2-3 years and 4-8 years are meeting the DGA 2015-2020 recommendations. Younger children had higher percentages meeting the DGA recommended intake for fruits, vegetables, dairy, and protein foods than older children. Younger children also had higher percentages meeting the recommendations for added sugar and sodium than older children. When differences by race/ethnicity and family income were investigated, non-Hispanic (NH) black children had a higher percentage meeting the DGA recommended intake for protein foods and saturated fats than NH white children. Non-Hispanic black children had a lower percentage meeting the recommendation for dairy than either NH white or Hispanic children. Hispanic children had a higher percentage meeting the recommendation for added sugar than NH white children. There were no differences by family income in percentage of children meeting the DGA recommendations.

Technical Abstract: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) 2015-2020 are designed to provide dietary guidance for the U.S. population and recommend following a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan in order to prevent diet-related chronic disease. This research estimates adherence to recommendations in the DGA 2015-2020 by U.S. children using national dietary intake data from What We Eat In America, NHANES, 2013-2016. The sample included 723 and 1,685 children age 2-3 years and 4-8 years, respectively. The Food Patterns Equivalents Database and the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 were used to determine the consumption of Food Pattern components and select nutrients. Usual intake estimates were produced using the National Cancer Institute Method and compared to the DGA energy-specific recommendations based on age, sex, and assuming the lowest physical activity level. Children age 2-3 years had significantly (p < 0.001) higher percentages meeting the DGA recommended intake than 4-8 years for fruits (62% vs 36%), vegetables (11% vs 5%), dairy (55% vs 28%) and protein foods (68% vs 42%). For components to limit, children age 2-3 years had significantly higher percentages meeting the recommendation for added sugar (50% vs 20%) and sodium (20% vs 10%). When analyzed by sociodemographic characteristics, non-Hispanic (NH) black children age 2-8 years had significantly higher percentages meeting the DGA recommended intake for protein foods than NH white children (64% vs 46%). A lower percentage of NH black children met the recommended intake for dairy compared to both NH white and Hispanic children, 16% vs 42%, and 36%, respectively. For components to limit, Hispanic children had a significantly higher percentage meeting the recommendation for added sugar than NH white children (37% vs 24%) and NH black children had a significantly higher percentage meeting the recommendation for saturated fats than NH white children (26% vs 12%). There were no significant differences by income in percentage of children meeting the DGA recommendations.