title: 20-Year trends in dietary and meal behaviors were similar in U.S. children and adolescents of different race/ethnicity.
abstract: Recent survey data reveal persistent race/ethnic disparities in prevalence of adiposity in U.S. children and adolescents. We examined race/ethnic differentials in time trends in dietary behaviors of Americans 2-19 y of age to understand if these trends track those observed for body weight. We used dietary data from the NHANES 1988-1994, 1999-2002, and 2003-2008 (n = 24,131) to examine changes in reported energy intake, amount of foods and beverages, number of eating occasions, and percent of energy from foods and beverages, among non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican American 2-19 y olds. Multivariable regression analyses appropriate for complex surveys were used to examine these associations. The secular increase in mean number of eating occasions was significant (P-trend < 0.0001) in all age and race/ethnic groups; however, a corresponding increase in the amount of foods and beverages, or total energy intake was not observed. In non-Hispanic black and Mexican American 2-5 and 12-19 y olds, the secular increase in number of eating occasions, and in non-Hispanic black 12-19 y olds, the increase in percent of energy from all beverages or non-nutritive beverages were greater relative to non-Hispanic whites. In conclusion, the observed race/ethnic differences in trajectory of changes in dietary behaviors over past 20 y were modest and were not accompanied by a significant increase in energy intake. Cautious interpretation is urged due to potential underreporting of dietary intake in national surveys. There was a suggestion of convergence in some race/ethnic differentials in dietary behaviors due to greater relative changes in possibly adverse behaviors in non-Hispanic blacks, especially adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, Queens College of the City University of New York, Flushing, NY, USA. ashima.kant@qc.cuny
authors.forename: Ashima K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kant
authors.forename: Barry I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Graubard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult