title: Mental health and food consumption among California children 5-11 years of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this research was to determine if poor mental health is associated with the intake of specific foods among California children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary data analysis of the 2007 and 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) was conducted. Mental health was measured using a shortened version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Dietary measures were self-reported servings of fruit, vegetables, 100% fruit juice, high sugar foods, soda/sweetened drinks, and French fries/fried potatoes consumed the previous day, as well as frequency of fast food consumed during the past week.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phone interviews were conducted via the CHIS on households in California.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data belonging to children (n = 11,190) ages 5-11 years whose parents completed the CHIS 2007 and 2009 random-dial telephone surveys was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of an estimated annual population of 3.7 million children, 180,000 (4.9%) had poor mental health. Children with poor mental health consumed more soda/sweetened drinks (0.60 vs 0.45 servings per day, p = 0.024), French fries/fried potatoes (0.27 vs 0.14 servings per day, p = 0.003), and fast food (2.02 vs 1.38 servings per week, p = 0.009) compared to children with good mental health. Mental health was not associated with other dietary measures. Adjusting for relevant socio-demographic characteristics, logistic regression found poor mental health to be significantly associated with any consumption of French fries/fried potatoes (odds ratio (OR) = 2.0, p = 0.001) or vegetables (OR 0.6, p = 0.005) on the previous day, and fast food two or more times in the past week (OR 1.7, p < 0.001). Interaction analysis revealed that an estimated 33% of girls with poor mental health consumed French fries, compared to 12% of girls with good mental health (OR 2.91, p = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with poor mental health are more likely to consume calorie-dense but nutrient-poor foods compared to their counterparts. Intake of such foods may contribute to worse physical health as these children mature.
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University School of Public Health (JEB, CKS, and GSS), RDs for Healthcare, Inc. (RNKM), and California Baptist University (OB), USA jbanta@llu.edu.
authors.forename: Jim E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Banta
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University School of Public Health (JEB, CKS, and GSS), RDs for Healthcare, Inc. (RNKM), and California Baptist University (OB), USA.
authors.forename: Roxanne N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Khoie-Mayer
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University School of Public Health (JEB, CKS, and GSS), RDs for Healthcare, Inc. (RNKM), and California Baptist University (OB), USA.
authors.forename: Chintan K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Somaiya
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University School of Public Health (JEB, CKS, and GSS), RDs for Healthcare, Inc. (RNKM), and California Baptist University (OB), USA.
authors.forename: Ogbochi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: McKinney
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University School of Public Health (JEB, CKS, and GSS), RDs for Healthcare, Inc. (RNKM), and California Baptist University (OB), USA.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Segovia-Siapco
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D002149:Energy Intake; D057140:Fast Foods; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates
keywords: California Health Interview Survey; Mental health; children; epidemiology; food preference