title: Tracking of dietary patterns from childhood to adolescence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the scientific literature on the tracking of dietary patterns from childhood to adolescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search of the MEDLINE/PubMed, Lilacs and SciELO databases was performed, using the following key words: "tracking", "dietary patterns" and "childhood/adolescence" and their respective synonyms. A total of 45 abstracts were found and, after the inclusion criteria were applied, 13 articles were included. The tracking of dietary patterns was assessed by three main statistical analyses: (Pearson or Spearman) correlation coefficients, kappa coefficient and probability analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tracking of dietary patterns ranged from weak to moderate between the childhood-childhood and childhood-adolescence periods. During adolescence, there appears to be no tracking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary patterns in childhood may continue until adolescence, although such patterns may be changed or discontinued throughout adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil. samantamadruga@gmail.com
authors.forename: Samanta Winck
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Madruga
authors.forename: Cora Luiza Pavin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Andréa Dâmaso
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bertoldi
authors.forename: Marilda Borges
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Neutzling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005502:Food / Q000592:standards*; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015596:Nutrition Assessment