Contributors of water intake in US children and adolescents: associations with dietary and meal characteristics--National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the association of contributors of total water intake with dietary characteristics in US children.


OBJECTIVE
We examined intakes of total water and its contributors and their associations with diet and meal reporting in children and adolescents.


METHODS
Dietary data for children 2-19 y of age (n = 3978) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006 were used to compute usual intake of total water. The association of total water and its contributors with sociodemographic characteristics and dietary and meal attributes was examined by using multiple regression analysis.


RESULTS
The adjusted mean intakes of total water in Americans aged 2-5, 6-11, and 12-19 y were 1.4, 1.6, and 2.4 L, respectively. The mean usual intake of total water was generally less than the Adequate Intake; overall, more boys reported intakes of at least the Adequate Intake. The percentage of total water intake from plain water increased with age. Plain water intake was inversely associated with the intake of beverage moisture and the energy density of foods; conversely, beverage moisture was positively associated with dietary energy, fat, and the energy density of foods. Associations of water contributors with meal patterns (number of eating occasions, reporting of breakfast or snack) were inconsistent across age groups. Nearly 80% of food moisture, >66% of beverage moisture, and ≈30% of plain water were reported with main meals.


CONCLUSIONS
Intake of total water over 24 h from different contributors varied by age. Qualitative differences in dietary intake in association with the amount of plain water and beverage moisture in the recalls were observed. American children and adolescents consumed more than two-thirds of their daily beverages with main meals.
Kant
Ashima K
AK
Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, Queens College of City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, USA. ashima.kant@qc.cuny.edu
Graubard
Barry I
BI
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001628:Beverages; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004326:Drinking; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D044469:Racial Groups; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult