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Candy consumption in childhood is not predictive of cardiovascular risk factors in young adults‐ The Bogalusa Heart Study
Author(s) -
Nicklas Theresa A.,
O'Neil Carol E.,
Liu Yan
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.622.25
Subject(s) - medicine , body mass index , young adult , demography , consumption (sociology) , longitudinal study , cross sectional study , early adulthood , gerontology , environmental health , endocrinology , social science , pathology , sociology
Limited research has examined the relationship between candy consumption in childhood on body mass index (BMI) and other cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in young adulthood. The goal of this study was to examine whether candy consumption in childhood was predictive of BMI and CVRF in young adulthood. A longitudinal sample of children 10 years (y) (n=355; 61% females; 71% whites, 29% African‐Americans) who participated in cross‐sectional surveys from 1973 to 1984 and also participated in one of two post‐high school surveys as young adults (19–38 y; Mean ± SD = 23.6±2.6 y) in Bogalusa, LA were studied. Dietary data were collected using 24‐hour dietary recalls or a food frequency questionnaire. Candy consumers were defined as those consuming any amounts of candy. Candy consumption was calculated as grams consumed/day and was used as a continuous and categorical variable in linear mixed models, adjusting for appropriate covariates. Dependent variables were BMI and CVRF obtained in young adulthood. 92% of children 10 y reported consuming candy (mean=46±45g); the percentage decreased to 67% (mean=20±30g) when they were young adults. There were no associations found between candy consumption in childhood with BMI or CVRF in young adulthood suggesting that candy consumption was not predictive of health risks later in life. Supported by USDA & National Confectioners Association.