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Eating patterns of children in the Delta: Developing a child food frequency questionnaire for this rural impoverished population
Author(s) -
Champagne Catherine Margaret,
McCabeSellers B,
Strickland E,
Stuff J,
Connell C,
Bogle M L
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.21.6.lb47
Subject(s) - environmental health , food frequency questionnaire , psychological intervention , obesity , percentile , medicine , population , food group , fruit juice , consumption (sociology) , food science , geography , biology , social science , statistics , mathematics , psychiatry , sociology
The epidemic of obesity and health risks for children currently present challenges in estimating food intakes and developing appropriate interventions. Obtaining eating patterns is important. No child food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are specific to the Delta. Food intake data collected previously resulted in a validated Delta NIRI Adult FFQ. Since interventions for obesity prevention target children, the adult FFQ needed modification for children and evaluation for appropriate wording, categories, and consumption frequencies. Children’s food intakes from Delta NIRI regional surveys yielded specific food data and associated nutrient information to construct a database for analysis. The instrument was piloted with 70 sixth grade students in the region. Only 46 (66%) subjects reported weight and height; 39% (n=18) were above the 85 th percentile, while 2 (4%) were under the 15 th percentile. Instrument length led to possible misreporting. Consumed most were luncheon meats/sausages, desserts/sweets, snacks, and cold cereals. Refined sugar drinks exceeded milk intake. French fry consumption exceeded other vegetables. Fruit juices/fruit were low. The FFQ is undergoing revision to reduce frequency choices, eliminating foods not reported and targeting perhaps specific food interventions as opposed to total diet. FFQs specific to targeted intakes may be more practical, resulting in more valuable data. Funded by the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, #6251‐53000‐004‐00D