title: Dietary patterns of children at 3.5 and 7 years of age: a New Zealand birth cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the dietary patterns of children at 3.5 and 7 years born small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and the association of dietary patterns with socio-demographic and obstetric factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children from a New Zealand birth cohort study were followed up at 3.5 (n = 550) and 7 (n = 591) years. Dietary information was collected using a Food Frequency Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three dietary patterns were defined in these children ('traditional', 'junk' and 'healthy'). Factors associated with dietary patterns were examined in multivariable analyses. At 3.5 years, 'junk' was associated with maternal smoking in pregnancy, no attendance at antenatal classes, maternal BMI and a younger maternal age. At 3.5 years, 'healthy' was associated with being married when pregnant. At 7 years, 'traditional' was associated with being born SGA, smoking in pregnancy, a younger maternal age and being male.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal socio-demographic, obstetric factors and birth size were associated with dietary patterns. The associations were not consistent with each dietary pattern across age groups. To examine the impact of diet in childhood on growth and health outcomes, factors influencing dietary patterns should be assessed at regular intervals throughout childhood.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Nutrition, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. c.wall@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Clare R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: John M D
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Edwin A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009520:New Zealand; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires