Beverage patterns, diet quality, and body mass index of US preschool and school-aged children

J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Jul;107(7):1124-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2007.04.013.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate diet quality and body mass index (BMI) by beverage patterns in children aged 2 to 11 years.

Design: Beverage patterns were formed using 24-hour dietary recall diet variables from the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Diet quality was assessed using energy, micronutrient intakes, and Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores (a 100-point scale that measures adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans).

Subjects/setting: Children, aged 2 to 5 years (n=541) and 6 to 11 years (n=793), were selected from 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.

Statistical analysis: Cluster analysis was used to identify beverage patterns in preschool and school-aged children. General linear models were used to compare HEI scores, energy, micronutrient intakes, and BMI across beverage clusters.

Results: Four and five beverage clusters were identified for preschool and school-aged children, respectively. In preschool children, mean HEI differed between the fruit juice cluster (79.0) vs the high-fat milk cluster (70.9, P<0.01); however, both fruit juice and high-fat milk clusters had the highest micronutrient intakes. Mean HEI differed significantly across beverage patterns for school-aged children (from 63.2 to 69.9, P<0.01), with the high-fat milk cluster having the best diet quality, reflected by HEI and micronutrient intakes. Adjusted mean BMI differed significantly across beverage clusters only in school-aged children (from 17.8 to 19.9, P<0.05).

Conclusions: Beverage patterns were related to diet quality among preschool and school-aged children, but were only related to BMI in school-aged children. Children from all clusters could benefit by consuming fewer calorically sweetened beverages and increasing micronutrient-dense foods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Beverages / statistics & numerical data*
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Carbonated Beverages
  • Child
  • Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Diet / standards*
  • Energy Intake*
  • Female
  • Fruit
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Recall
  • Micronutrients / administration & dosage*
  • Milk
  • Nutrition Policy
  • Nutrition Surveys

Substances

  • Micronutrients