title: Dietary patterns and changes in body composition in children between 9 and 11 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Childhood obesity is rising and dietary intake is a potentially modifiable factor that plays an important role in its development. We aim to investigate the association between dietary patterns, obtained through principal components analysis and gains in fat and lean mass in childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diet diaries at 10 years of age collected from children taking part in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at 9 and 11.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal birth cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  3911 children with complete data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an association between the Health Aware (positive loadings on high-fiber bread, and fruits and vegetables; negative loadings on chips, crisps, processed meat, and soft drinks) pattern score and decreased fat mass gain in girls. After adjusting for confounders, an increase of 1 standard deviation (sd) in this score led to an estimated 1.2% decrease in fat mass gain in valid-reporters and 2.1% in under-reporters. A similar decrease was found only in under-reporting boys. There was also an association between the Packed Lunch (high consumption of white bread, sandwich fillings, and snacks) pattern score and decreased fat mass gain (1.1% per sd) in valid-reporting but not under-reporting girls. The main association with lean mass gain was an increase with Packed Lunch pattern score in valid-reporting boys only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a small association between dietary patterns and change in fat mass in mid-childhood. Differences between under- and valid-reporters emphasize the need to consider valid-reporters separately in such studies.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew D A C
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Pauline M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Emmett
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Program in Graduate Medical Nutrition Sciences, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA ; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA ; Program in Gastronomy, Culinary Arts, and Wine Studies, Metropolitan College, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Newby
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Northstone
keywords: ALSPAC; body composition; dietary patterns; principal components analysis; valid-reporters