Food intakes of US children and adolescents compared with recommendations.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the proportion of youth meeting national recommendations for food group intake and to identify food intake patterns.


METHODS
The US Department of Agriculture's 1989-1991 Continuing Surveys of Food Intakes by Individuals were used to estimate food intake. Intake was determined from 3 days of diet by disaggregating foods into their component ingredients and using weights that correspond to servings.


METHODS
The sample included 3307 youth, 2 to 19 years of age, living in the 48 conterminous United States. Main Outcome Measures. Mean number of servings and percentage of individuals meeting national recommendations for food group intake according to demographic characteristics, patterns of intake, and nutrient profiles associated with each pattern.


RESULTS
Mean numbers of servings per day were below minimum recommendations for all food groups except the dairy group (ages 2 to 11). Percentages of youth meeting recommendations ranged from approximately 30% for fruit, grain, meat, and dairy to 36% for vegetables. Sixteen percent of youth did not meet any recommendations, and 1% met all recommendations. The pattern of meeting all recommendations resulted in nutrient intakes above the recommended dietary allowances and was high in fat. Conversely, meeting none of the recommendations resulted in intakes well below the recommended dietary allowances for some nutrients. Total fat and added sugars averaged 35% and 15% of energy, respectively, and levels were similar among most demographic groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Children and teens in the United States follow eating patterns that do not meet national recommendations. Nutrition education and intervention are needed among US children.
Muñoz
K A
KA
Applied Research Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Krebs-Smith
S M
SM
Ballard-Barbash
R
R
Cleveland
L E
LE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003611:Dairy Products; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating; D002523:Edible Grain; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D014675:Vegetables
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats