ResearchOriginal ResearchDietary Sources of Energy, Solid Fats, and Added Sugars among Children and Adolescents in the United States
Section snippets
Data Source and Sample
Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a cross-sectional study, were used to examine food sources of total energy (during years 2005-2006) and energy from solid fats and added sugars (during years 2003-2004). NHANES is a nationally representative survey with a complex multistage, stratified probability sample. Trained interviewers conducted in-person 24-hour dietary recalls with all eligible persons, using automated data collection systems that included
Results
Mean intakes of energy, solid fats, and added sugars, along with the contributions (percentage and absolute intake) of specific foods contributing at least 2%, are available online at http://riskfactor.cancer.gov/diet/foodsources/energy/. Data are provided for persons aged 2 to 18 years and by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income level. For ease of presentation, mean intakes of energy, solid fats, and added sugars, and results from the top five sources are summarized in Table 1, Table 2 and
Discussion
To our knowledge, this is the first research to provide data on sources of solid fats and added sugars (collectively, empty calories) as well as total energy, among diets of children and adolescents, examined by race/ethnicity, income, and age groups. The variables examined are based on the most recent available data on a nationally representative sample of US children and adolescents.
Several previously published analyses laid the foundation for this work (15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24).
Conclusions
The epidemic of obesity among children and adolescents is now widely regarded as one of the most important public health problems in the United States. Most experts agree that the solution will involve changes in both diet and physical activity to affect energy balance. For diet, this means a reduction in energy from current consumption levels. Although reduction in energy intake from any source could lead to weight change, it seems imprudent to advise children to cut down on key
J. Reedy is a nutritionist, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.
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J. Reedy is a nutritionist, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.
S. M. Krebs-Smith is chief, Risk Factor Monitoring and Methods Branch in the Applied Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.
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