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The intake of nutrients by Northumbrian adolescents from one‐parent families and from unemployed families
Author(s) -
Moynihan P. J.,
Adamson A. J.,
Skinner R.,
RuggGunn A. J.,
Appleton D. R.,
Butler T. J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of human nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1365-277X
pISSN - 0952-3871
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-277x.1993.tb00388.x
Subject(s) - medicine , nutrient , single parent , demography , low income , family income , environmental health , pediatrics , developmental psychology , psychology , chemistry , organic chemistry , socioeconomics , sociology , economics , economic growth
In order to tailor nutrition health education to ‘at risk’ groups, areas of nutritional insufficiency in the diets of such groups need to be identified. Low income and poor nutritional knowledge may predispose children from one‐parent families and/or unemployed families to a poor diet. The present study compared intakes of nutrients between Northumbrian adolescents from one‐parent and two‐parent families and between Northumbrian adolescents from unemployed and employed families. In 1990, 379 children aged 11–12 years completed two 3‐day dietary records, and were interviewed by a dietitian to verify the information given. Information on the employment status and number of parents of these children was obtained by questionnaire. Compared to girls from employed families, girls from unemployed families had significantly higher intakes of energy, fat and carbohydrate. Boys from unemployed families had significantly lower intakes of iron and vitamin C than boys from employed families. Daily intake of energy and fat were significantly greater in girls from single‐parent families compared to girls from two‐parent families. No differences in intake of nutrients were observed between boys from one‐ and two‐parent families. No additive effect of being from both an unemployed and single‐parent family was observed.