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Increasing age lowers whereas being Mexican American increases overall diet quality in children
Author(s) -
Kranz Sibylle,
Findeis Jill
Publication year - 2008
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.22.1_supplement.36.2
Subject(s) - demography , ethnic group , medicine , poverty , mexican americans , psychological intervention , gerontology , food stamp program , environmental health , low income , socioeconomics , sociology , political science , welfare , law , economics , economic growth , food stamps , psychiatry , anthropology
The Revised Children's Diet Quality Index (RC‐DQI) was used to determine overall diet quality in a nationally representative sample of 2–5 year olds (n=1,521; NHANES 1999–2002). Self‐reported socio‐demographic and activity data was used in linear regression models examining the effect of age, gender, ethnic group, income (poverty income ratio (PIR)), and other variables on RC‐DQI scores. Models for the full sample and stratified by income‐eligibility for the WIC (PIR<1.85, N=861) and Food Stamp Program (FS, PIR<1.3, N=676) were developed. Analysis was conducted using survey routines in STATA 9.2. Increasing age was associated with lower and being Mexican American with higher RC‐DQI score (referent: Non‐Hispanic white). In the full sample, increased PIR was associated with better diet quality (^‐coefficient 1.22, p‐value<0.001). Boys had better diet quality than girls (^‐coefficient 1.87, p‐value<0.04) the WIC‐eligible group. Food program participation indicated trends to better diet quality but was not statistically significant. Interventions to improve diet quality should target young children, especially in low‐income families. Future analysis of diet quality should focus on differences in food groups and nutrients consumed by Mexican American children compared to other ethnic groups. Support from USDA RIDGE Grant #K981834‐21 and a College of Health and Human Development seed grant.