Changes in food group consumption patterns from childhood to young adulthood: the Bogalusa Heart Study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess changes in food group consumption patterns from childhood to young adulthood.


METHODS
Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were collected on a longitudinal sample of young adults.


METHODS
Dietary intake data were collected on 246 young adults (70% European American, 30% African American) aged 19 to 28 years who participated in a previous cross-sectional survey when they were 10-year-olds.


METHODS
Descriptive statistics and linear mixed models adjusting for study time (age), sex, and ethnicity.


RESULTS
In childhood, consumption of fruits/fruit juice and mixed meats ( P </=.05), desserts, candy, and milk ( P </=.0001) were greater than in young adulthood. Young adulthood consumption was greater for sweetened beverages, poultry and seafood ( P </=.001), salty snacks ( P </=.05), and beef ( P </=.01) compared to childhood. Milk consumption decreased, but the decrease was greater among males ( P </=.0001). Sweetened beverage consumption increased, but the increase was greater for European Americans ( P </=.0001). Candy consumption decreased, but the decrease was greater for African Americans ( P </=.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Changes occur in food group consumption patterns from childhood to young adulthood. Overall, there was a decrease in diet quality during this age transition. Understanding eating habits of children early in life is important for planning effective intervention strategies.
Demory-Luce
Debby
D
Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates Ave, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Morales
Miriam
M
Nicklas
Theresa
T
Baranowski
Tom
T
Zakeri
Issa
I
Berenson
Gerald
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001628:Beverages; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D011939:Mental Recall; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People