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Dietary pattern of first grade children using the Healthy Eating Index
Author(s) -
Choate Kacy M.,
Kennedy Tay,
Topham Glade,
HubbsTait Laura,
Page Melanie,
Harrist Amanda
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a300-c
Subject(s) - index (typography) , healthy eating , psychology , food science , medicine , biology , computer science , physical activity , world wide web , physical therapy
The Family and Schools for Health Project is studying children's emotional and physical health. One objective is to define the dietary patterns among first graders in north central Oklahoma. Methods : Parents of children participating in a diet and exercise program targeted at overweight children completed three day food records and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was calculated. The HEI scores the subscales 0–10 and give an overall score out of 100. A HEI score of 50–80 indicates a diet that needs improvement . Participants : N = 41; 48.8% female; average age 6.79 years ± .42; Mean BMI percentile 90.0 ± 10.9; 55.4% qualified for free/reduced school lunch; 19.5% Native American, 75.6% non‐Hispanic white, and 4.8% Other. Results : Mean total HEI score was 63.9 ± 10.0. Subscales ranged from fruits 3.8 ± 3.3 to cholesterol 8.4 ± 2.7. There was a positive correlation between vegetable and saturated fat ( r =.457, p =.019); fruit and total fat ( r =.435, p =.026); and total fat with the HEI overall score ( r =.608, p =.001). A negative correlation was shown between grain and sodium (r =−.505, p =.008), vegetable and sodium ( r −.422, p =.032) and milk and saturated fat ( r =−.562, p =.003). Conclusions : Analysis of parent reported intake indicated children's diets needed improvement . Interventions targeted at increasing fruit, vegetable and milk intake may improve overall diet quality. Supported by USDA‐CREES Grant No.05545.