ResearchResearch and Practice InnovationsDiet Quality of Americans Differs by Age, Sex, Race/Ethnicity, Income, and Education Level
Section snippets
Study Sample
HEI-2005 scores were estimated using 1 day of dietary intake data provided by 8,272 participants in the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the most recent cycle for which the necessary food group data were available. Dietary data were collected by trained interviewers using the US Department of Agriculture Automated Multiple Pass Method, which is standardized, computer-assisted, and validated.20 The study sample included all participants (including pregnant and
HEI-2005 Total Scores
The HEI-2005 mean total scores for all children, adults, and older adults are found in Tables 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The total score was 56 for both children and adults, and 65 for older adults. Children ages 2 to 5 years had higher total scores than those 6 to 11 or 12 to 17 years of age, and adults 55 to 64 years had higher total scores than all younger adult groups. The oldest participants, age 75 years and older, had a higher total score than those 65 to 74 years old, as well as the
Conclusions
According to this descriptive study, the diet quality of Americans differed by sociodemographic characteristics. In general, children and older adults have better-quality diets than younger and middle-aged adults; women have better-quality diets than men; Hispanics have better-quality diets than blacks and whites; and diet quality generally improves with income level, with the exception of sodium.
The diets of Americans 2 years and older, regardless of socioeconomic status, are far less than
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Breda Munoz of RTI International for advice on statistical analyses.
H. A. B. Hiza is a nutritionist, US Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Alexandria, VA
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H. A. B. Hiza is a nutritionist, US Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Alexandria, VA
K. O. Casavale is a nutritionist, US Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Alexandria, VA
P. M. Guenther is a nutritionist, US Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Alexandria, VA
C. A. Davis was director, Nutrition Promotion (retired), US Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Alexandria, VA
Available online 15 November 2012
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT Support for this study was provided by US Department of Agriculture/Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.