Food intake in Slovenian adolescents and adherence to the Optimized Mixed Diet: a nationally representative study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the food intake of Slovenian adolescents and to compare it with food-based dietary guidelines developed for children and adolescents, named the Optimized Mixed Diet (OMD). The OMD is a useful tool for the evaluation of food intake of adolescents.


METHODS
All adolescents completed an FFQ at a regional health centre; a subgroup also completed a 3 d weighed dietary protocol at home.


METHODS
This study is a part of the first national representative study on the dietary habits of Slovenian adolescents.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study included a representative sample of 2813 Slovenian adolescents entering high school, aged 14-17 years, from all ten geographical regions of Slovenia.


RESULTS
The greatest deviations from the recommended intakes of the main food groups in the OMD were significantly lower intakes of (P < 0·001, mean): vegetables (179 and 163 g/d in boys and girls, respectively), bread/cereals (271 and 226 g/d), potatoes/rice/pasta (212 and 163 g/d); in boys also a significantly lower intake of fruits (mean: 321 g/d, P < 0·001) and a significantly higher intake of meat/meat products (mean: 126 g/d, P < 0·001). Additionally, the results show too high intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and too low intakes of fish and plant oils in both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
The food intake pattern of Slovenian adolescents deviates markedly from a healthy eating pattern. Nutrition education and interventions are needed for Slovenian adolescents.
Dietetics and Nutrition Unit, University Children's Hospital, Bohoričeva 20, SI-1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Helena
H
Kobe
Matevž
M
Štimec
Cirila Hlastan
CH
Ribič
Nataša
N
Fidler Mis
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D001628:Beverages; D001939:Bread; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002523:Edible Grain; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D017678:Sex Distribution; D017524:Slovenia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables