Relationship between whole grain and fiber consumption and body weight measures among 6- to 18-year-olds.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between whole grain and fiber consumption and body weight measures in children 6 to 12 (n=3868) and adolescents 13 to 18 (n=4931) years old.


METHODS
Combined 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were analyzed. Mean body mass index (BMI), BMI percentile, BMI z-score, waist circumference, and prevalence of overweight/obesity were compared across categories of whole grain consumption (0 to <0.6, >or=0.6 to <1.5, >or=1.5 to <3, and >or=3 servings) with (1) a sex, ethnicity, and total energy intake-adjusted model and (2) a cereal fiber plus model 1 covariates profile.


RESULTS
Mean whole grain intake was 0.59 and 0.63 servings/d among children 6 to 12 years and adolescents 13 to 18 years, respectively. In children, consumption of >or=3 servings of whole grain was not associated with body weight measures; however, consumption of 1.5 to <3 servings was positively associated with all weight measures. In adolescents, BMI z-score was significantly lower in the highest whole grain consumption group compared with the lowest 2 groups; BMI percentile and waist circumference (model 1 only) were also significantly lower in the highest whole grain consumption group.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall consumption of whole grain was below current recommendations of at least 3 servings per day. Only in adolescents was this level of whole grain intake associated with lower BMI z-scores.
Zanovec
Michael
M
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, School of Human Ecology, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
O'Neil
Carol E
CE
Cho
Susan S
SS
Kleinman
Ronald E
RE
Nicklas
Theresa A
TA
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000378:metabolism*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D055105:Waist Circumference