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Added sugars and solid fat replace fruits, vegetables, and milk in the diets of preschool‐age children, especially that of low‐income children
Author(s) -
Bowman Shanthy,
Friday James,
Martin Carrie
Publication year - 2009
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.23.1_supplement.912.9
Subject(s) - calorie , low income , national health and nutrition examination survey , medicine , environmental health , food science , zoology , biology , economics , population , socioeconomics , endocrinology
The study objective is to examine the associations between discretionary calories and fruit, vegetable, and milk intakes in children, ages 2 to 5 years, from low‐ (<131% of poverty; n=394), medium‐ (131‐350%; n=233), and high‐ (> 355%; n=107) income households. What We Eat In America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003‐2004 data were used. Regression models adjusting for age and gender were used, with alpha =0.05 level of significance. Low‐ and medium‐income children had significantly more energy from added sugars (265±12, 252±18, and 203± 9 kcal) and solid fat (388±15, 383±32, 305±17 kcal) than high‐income children, respectively. Low‐income children had the highest total energy intake (1804± 47, 1689± 56, 1572± 59 kcal). For every 10% increase in percent total energy from added sugars, fruit intakes reduced by 0.9, 0.5 and 0.6 cup and milk intakes reduced by 0.4, 0.6 and 0.5 cup, for low‐ to high‐income children, respectively. For every 10% increase in percent total energy from solid fat, fruit intakes reduced by 1.2, 0.7, and 0.5 cup, and milk intake increased by 0.5 and 0.2 cup in low‐ and medium‐income children. The reduction in vegetable intakes of low‐ and medium‐income children was small, but significant. Food habits form early in life. The study showed the need for preschool‐age children, especially those form low‐income households to reduce added sugars and fat intakes. Study funded by USDA.