Home and eating environments are associated with saturated fat intake in children in rural West Virginia.
OBJECTIVE
To describe sociodemographic, environmental, and knowledge factors in relation to self-reported, energy-adjusted saturated fat consumption among children in rural West Virginia.


METHODS
Three hundred twenty-five 5th graders who participated in the Coronary Artery Risk Detection in Appalachian Communities Project conducted in 3 rural counties in West Virginia in 1998-1999.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey based on self-reported information collected using a food frequency questionnaire, a nutrition knowledge questionnaire, and a family composition questionnaire.


METHODS
Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis.


RESULTS
The mean percentage of energy from total fat was 31.8% +/- 4.9 and from saturated fat was 11.8% +/- 2.3. Energy-adjusted saturated fat intake was significantly higher among children with higher frequencies of breakfast and late-night snacks prepared away from home, and in households with single mothers. Variables associated with higher energy-adjusted saturated fat intake with marginal statistical significance (P=.05-.10) included attendance at schools with a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, usual breakfast location other than home or school, and less knowledge about low-fat, low-sodium foods. Frequent late-night snacks prepared away from home and living with single mothers remained as significant correlates of energy-adjusted saturated fat intake independent of other hypothesized determinants.


CONCLUSIONS
Efforts to reduce saturated fat intake among children in rural areas should focus on food prepared away from home. Nutrition-related behaviors of single mothers should be explored further.
Gonzales
Elizabeth N
EN
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA.
Marshall
Julie A
JA
Heimendinger
Jerianne
J
Crane
Lori A
LA
Neal
William A
WA
D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004522:Educational Status; D002149:Energy Intake; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012147:Restaurants; D012423:Rural Health; D012650:Self Disclosure; D020954:Single-Parent Family / Q000523:psychology*; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014903:West Virginia
D004041:Dietary Fats