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Nutrient Adequacy and Diet Quality in Non-Overweight and Overweight Hispanic Children of Low Socioeconomic Status: The Viva la Familia Study

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Abstract

Objective

The role of diet quality and nutrient adequacy in the etiology of childhood obesity is poorly understood. The specific aims of these analyses were to assess overall diet quality and nutrient adequacy, and test for association between weight status and diet in children from low socioeconomic status (SES) Hispanic families at high risk for obesity.

Design

A cross-sectional study design was used to assess dietary intake in low-SES Hispanic children with and without overweight who were enrolled in the Viva la Familia Study. Multiple-pass 24-hour dietary recalls were recorded on two random, weekday occasions. Diet quality was evaluated according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Nutrient adequacy was assessed using z scores based on estimated average requirement or adequate intake.

Subjects/setting

The study included 1,030 Hispanic children and adolescents, aged 4 to 19 years, in Houston, TX, who participated between November 2000 and August 2004.

Statistical analysis

STATA software (version 9.1, 2006, STATA Corp, College Station, TX) was used for generalized estimating equations and random effects regression.

Results

Diet quality did not adhere to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans for fat, cholesterol, saturated fatty acids, fiber, added sugar, and sodium. Although energy intake was significantly higher in children with overweight, food sources, diet quality, macro- and micronutrient composition were similar between non-overweight and overweight children. Relative to estimated average requirements or adequate intake levels, mean nutrient intakes were adequate (70% to 98% probability) in the children without and with overweight, except for vitamins D and E, pantothenic acid, calcium, and potassium, for which z scores cannot be interpreted given the uncertainty of their adequate intake levels.

Conclusions

Whereas the diets of low-SES Hispanic children with and without overweight were adequate in most essential nutrients, other components of a healthful diet, which promote long-term health, were suboptimal. Knowledge of the diets of high-risk Hispanic children will inform nutritional interventions and policy.

Section snippets

Study Design and Subjects

A cross-sectional design was used to assess dietary intake in 993 of the 1,030 children from 319 Hispanic families enrolled in the Viva la Familia study (10). The dietary recalls of 37 children were known to be unreliable by self-report; that is, intake of the child was not typical due to illness or unusual schedule for that particular day. The study was conducted between November 2000 and August 2004 in Houston, TX. Dietary intakes were obtained at the US Department of Agriculture

Results

Demographic data of the Viva la Familia cohort are described in Table 1. Most (82%) children participating in the Viva study were second-generation Americans of Mexican and Central American descent. Most parents were from Mexico (71%); the remainder was from Central America (11%), South America (3%), and the United States (15%). Also, 73% of families included both overweight and non-overweight children. Table 2 describes the anthropometrics and eating patterns of the children. Of the overweight

Discussion

Diets in low-SES Hispanic children were adequate in most nutrients, but frequently exceeded guidelines for percent total fat, percent saturated fat, cholesterol, added sugar, and sodium intakes. Low intakes of fruits, vegetables, and fiber diminished the quality of the diet. With few exceptions (noted in the Results section), non-overweight and overweight children from these Hispanic families consumed diets that were qualitatively, but not quantitatively, similar. This finding may result from

Conclusions

The diets of these low-SES Hispanic children were adequate in most essential nutrients, but suboptimal for the promotion of long-term health. Diet quality did not satisfy US dietary guidelines for fat, cholesterol, saturated fatty acids, fiber, added sugar, and sodium. Although energy intake was higher in overweight children, food sources, diet quality and macro- and micronutrient composition were similar between non-overweight and overweight siblings. Relative to EAR or AI, mean nutrient

T. A. Wilson is a research dietitian, US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

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  • Cited by (0)

    T. A. Wilson is a research dietitian, US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

    A. L. Adolph is a biomedical engineer, US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

    N. F. Butte is a professor, US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

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