Premium
Consumption of Healthy or Unhealthy Foods Affects the Risks of Developing Overweight/Obesity and Hypercholesterolemia in Preschool Children
Author(s) -
Jen KL Catherine,
Xu Suxuan,
Yeh Yulyu,
Hartlieb Kathryn Brogan
Publication year - 2017
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.31.1_supplement.958.10
Subject(s) - overweight , medicine , obesity , consumption (sociology) , food preference , environmental health , population , demography , pediatrics , food science , endocrinology , social science , chemistry , sociology
Many factors have contributed to the high prevalence of overweight (OW) or obesity (OB) in pediatric population. Factors may include parents' lack of knowledge about healthy food choices and not providing healthy foods to preschoolers. The current study examined the relationships between healthy food preference/consumption and BMI as well as blood total cholesterol levels in 178 preschoolers enrolled in Head Start Programs in Detroit, MI. Children's Food Preference/Knowledge Questionnaires were collected from 178 preschoolers from 6 Head Start Centers (mean age: 3 year 11 months±11 months, 93.8% Black; 3.4% other; 1.7% Hispanic; 0.6% Asian and 0.6% White) about their knowledge of healthy (less fat and sugar content) and unhealthy foods as well as their food preference and eating behavior by asking them to answer questions about 12 pairs of food pictures. Each pair of pictures included a photo of a healthy food choice and an unhealthy food choice. Sum of healthy food consumption (max=12) was classified into 3 categories: unhealthy consumption (UHC; <3 healthy food consumptions), moderate consumption (MC: 4–7 consumptions) and healthy consumption (HC; >7). Body weight was measured and blood total cholesterol (TC) levels were analyzed by a Cholestech LDX analyzer using a non‐fasting blood sample obtained by finger prick. It was observed that 63.6% of preschoolers with UHC were OW/OB while only 23.8% with HC were OW/OB. Compared to preschoolers with HC, preschoolers with UHC had risk odd ratio (OR) of 5.6 (95% confidence interval: 1.64–19.15) of developing OW/OB while preschoolers with MC had OR of 1.9. Consuming < 3 healthy foods increased the risk for high TC (OR=12.5) compared to > 4 consumptions. The following unhealthy food consumption in each pair of food significantly increased the OR for OW/OB: Cheetos vs cereals; French fries vs baked potato; cookies vs apple; soda vs milk; bacon vs egg. Cheetos vs cereal and hamburger vs fish increased the OR for high cholesterol levels. It is concluded that even at this young age, frequent consumption of unhealthy foods is associated with increased the risk of OW/OB and hypercholesterolemia. Nutrition education to parents with low socioeconomic status to create a healthy food environment and to encourage their children's consumption of healthy foods/snacks should start early while their children are young. Support or Funding Information This study was supported by a grant from the Research Enhancement Program, Office of Vice President for Research, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.