European children's sugar intake on weekdays versus weekends: the IDEFICS study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the intake of total sugars, foods and drinks rich in added sugar, and energy in children on weekdays (Monday-Thursday), Fridays and weekends.


METHODS
Dietary intake (g, kJ, energy %) was assessed using a computerized 24-h recall method in a sample of 2- to 9-year-old children from Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain and Sweden who were participating in the IDEFICS baseline study (2007-2008). Analyses were performed in 9497 children by selecting one 24-h recall per child (for comparison of weekdays vs weekends, and Fridays vs weekdays and weekends). Selected stratified analyses were performed by country and age group.


RESULTS
Intake of total sugars exceeded 20 energy % in all countries but one. In the non-stratified analyses, the intakes of total sugars and foods and drinks rich in added sugar were found to be higher on weekends compared with weekdays (both P<0.001), and intakes on Fridays were a mix between intakes on weekdays and weekends. Energy intake did not differ between weekdays and weekends. RESULTS were somewhat heterogeneous, both across countries and age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
High intake of sugar remains an important nutritional problem in children of many European countries. Interventions aiming to prevent this diet pattern may optimize their impact by targeting dietary habits on Fridays and weekends. Furthermore, when conducting dietary assessment in children, data from weekends and Fridays in combination with a selection of Mondays to Thursdays are needed to capture habitual sugar intake. Age and dietary cultures should also be considered in dietary intervention and assessment as effect modifications were seen for both age and country.
Department of Food and Nutrition, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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A
Svensson
1] Department of Food and Nutrition, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden [2] Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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C
Larsson
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Public Health Epidemiology Unit, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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G
Eiben
Department of Epidemiological Methods and Etiologic Research, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology -BIPS GmbH, Bremen, Germany.
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A
Lanfer
Department of Preventive and Predictive Medicine, Fondazione IRCSS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Italy.
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V
Pala
Department of Epidemiological Methods and Etiologic Research, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology -BIPS GmbH, Bremen, Germany.
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Hebestreit
1] Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium [2] Dietary Exposure Assessment Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France.
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Huybrechts
Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
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JM
Fernández-Alvira
Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics, Institute of Food Science, CNR, Avellino, Italy.
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Russo
Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
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AC
Koni
Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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De Henauw
National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia.
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T
Veidebaum
Department of Paediatrics, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
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D
Molnár
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Public Health Epidemiology Unit, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Lissner
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005060:Europe; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall
D019422:Dietary Sucrose