ISMNT NEWS: Disease Prevention by Exploring Molecular Mechanisms Linked to Nutrition

ISMNT News #21 deals with the frustrating experience that despite strong recomendations only 1% of children and teens follow in the US eating patterns considered being useful for preventing chronic diseases. It appears that in Germany the situation might be slightly better. A recent survey (DAK) showed that 78% of children take a traditional type of snack to school. Nonetheless every sixth child is obese. Is the suggestion to improve nutrition education among children realistic or should more efforts be made to develop drugs for treating selectively processes associated with overweight? Should ISMNT go in the direction of pharmacotherapy?

The key reference is by:

Munoz KA, Krebs-Smith SM, Ballard-Barbash R, Cleveland LE

FOOD INTAKES OF US CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS COMPARED WITH RECOMMENDATIONS

Applied Research Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland Pediatrics 1997 Sep;100(3 Pt 1):323-329

OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion of youth meeting national recommendations for food group intake and to identify food intake patterns.

DESIGN: The US Department of Agriculture's 1989-1991 Continuing Surveys of Food Intakes by Individuals were used to estimate food intake. Intake was determined from 3 days of diet by disaggregating foods into their component ingredients and using weights that correspond to servings. PARTICIPANTS: The sample included 3307 youth, 2 to 19 years of age, living in the 48 conterminous United States. Main Outcome Measures. Mean number of servings and percentage of individuals meeting national recommendations for food group intake according to demographic characteristics, patterns of intake, and nutrient profiles associated with each pattern.

RESULTS: Mean numbers of servings per day were below minimum recommendations for all food groups except the dairy group (ages 2 to 11). Percentages of youth meeting recommendations ranged from approximately 30% for fruit, grain, meat, and dairy to 36% for vegetables. Sixteen percent of youth did not meet any recommendations, and 1% met all recommendations. The pattern of meeting all recommendations resulted in nutrient intakes above the recommended dietary allowances and was high in fat. Conversely, meeting none of the recommendations resulted in intakes well below the recommended dietary allowances for some nutrients. Total fat and added sugars averaged 35% and 15% of energy, respectively, and levels were similar among most demographic groups.

CONCLUSION: Children and teens in the United States follow eating patterns that do not meet national recommendations. Nutrition education and intervention are needed among US children.