Dataset Information

Distribution of energy and macronutrient intakes across eating occasions in European children from 3 to 8 years of age: The EU Childhood Obesity Project Study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

We aimed to characterize the distribution of energy and macronutrient intakes across eating occasions (EO) in European children from preschool to school age.

Methods

Data from 3-day weighed food records were collected from children at ages 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 years from Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain. Food intakes were assigned to EO based on country-specific daytimes for breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks (morning, afternoon). The average energy and nutrient intakes were expressed as percentage of total energy intake (%E). Nutrients were additionally expressed as percentage per EO (%E_EO). Foods were assigned to food groups; variation in intake was calculated via coefficient of variation (CV). We analyzed age trends in diurnal intake using mixed-effects beta regression.

Results

The 740 healthy children included in the analysis consumed the largest proportion of daily energy at lunch (31%E ± 8, M ± SD) and supper (26%E ± 8), followed by breakfast (19%E ± 7) and snacks [afternoon (16%E ± 8); morning (8%E ± 7)], with the most variable intake at morning snack (CV = 0.9). The nutrient composition at lunch and supper was highest for fat (36 ± 9%E_Lunch; 39 ± 11%E_Supper) and protein (18 ± 5%E_Lunch; 18 ± 6%E_Supper) and at breakfast and snacks for carbohydrates (54 ± 12%E_Breakfast; 62 ± 12%E_Snacks). High-sugar content foods were consumed in relatively large proportions at breakfast and snacks. Food intakes varied significantly with age, with lower snack intakes at later ages (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Possibly unhealthy EOs with high-fat intakes and high-sugar-content foods were observed. Changes in nutrient composition of EOs may be beneficial for health.

Trial registry

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00338689; 19/June/2006.

SUBMITTER: Jaeger V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9899743 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Distribution of energy and macronutrient intakes across eating occasions in European children from 3 to 8 years of age: The EU Childhood Obesity Project Study.

Jaeger Vanessa V Koletzko Berthold B Luque Veronica V Ferré Natàlia N Gruszfeld Dariusz D Gradowska Kinga K Verduci Elvira E Zuccotti Gian Vincenzo GV Xhonneux Annick A Poncelet Pascale P Grote Veit V

European journal of nutrition 20220805 1

<h4>Purpose</h4>We aimed to characterize the distribution of energy and macronutrient intakes across eating occasions (EO) in European children from preschool to school age.<h4>Methods</h4>Data from 3-day weighed food records were collected from children at ages 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 years from Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain. Food intakes were assigned to EO based on country-specific daytimes for breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks (morning, afternoon). The average energy and nutrient inta ...[more]

PMID: 35930067

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Dataset Information

Distribution of energy and macronutrient intakes across eating occasions in European children from 3 to 8 years of age: The EU Childhood Obesity Project Study.

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Trial registry

Publications

Distribution of energy and macronutrient intakes across eating occasions in European children from 3 to 8 years of age: The EU Childhood Obesity Project Study.

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