Distribution of energy and macronutrient intakes across eating occasions in European children from 3 to 8 years of age: The EU Childhood Obesity Project Study

Identifier:  imarina:9280461

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9280461

Authors:  Jaeger, Vanessa; Koletzko, Berthold; Luque, Veronica; Ferre, Natalia; Gruszfeld, Dariusz; Gradowska, Kinga; Verduci, Elvira; Zuccotti, Gian Vincenzo; Xhonneux, Annick; Poncelet, Pascale; Grote, Veit

Abstract:
We aimed to characterize the distribution of energy and macronutrient intakes across eating occasions (EO) in European children from preschool to school age.Data from 3-day weighed food records were collected from children at ages 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 years from Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain. Food intakes were assigned to EO based on country-specific daytimes for breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks (morning, afternoon). The average energy and nutrient intakes were expressed as percentage of total energy intake (%E). Nutrients were additionally expressed as percentage per EO (%EEO). Foods were assigned to food groups; variation in intake was calculated via coefficient of variation (CV). We analyzed age trends in diurnal intake using mixed-effects beta regression.The 740 healthy children included in the analysis consumed the largest proportion of daily energy at lunch (31%E ± 8, M ± SD) and supper (26%E ± 8), followed by breakfast (19%E ± 7) and snacks [afternoon (16%E ± 8); morning (8%E ± 7)], with the most variable intake at morning snack (CV = 0.9). The nutrient composition at lunch and supper was highest for fat (36 ± 9%ELunch; 39 ± 11%ESupper) and protein (18 ± 5%ELunch; 18 ± 6%ESupper) and at breakfast and snacks for carbohydrates (54 ± 12%EBreakfast; 62 ± 12%ESnacks). High-sugar content foods were consumed in relatively large proportions at breakfast and snacks. Food intakes varied significantly with age, with lower snack intakes at later ages (p < 0.001).Possibly unhealthy EOs with high-fat intakes and high-sugar-content foods were observed. Changes in nutrient composition of EOs may be beneficial for health.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00338689; 19/June/2006.© 2022. The Author(s).