Public Health Nutrition
Volume 17, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 1308-1317

Racial/ethnic and immigrant differences in early childhood diet quality (Article) (Open Access)

De Hoog M.L.A.* , Kleinman K.P. , Gillman M.W. , Vrijkotte T.G.M. , Van Eijsden M. , Taveras E.M.
  • a Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, Netherlands, Department of Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, Public Health Service, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • b Obesity Prevention Program, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
  • c Obesity Prevention Program, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
  • d Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • e Department of Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, Public Health Service, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Institute of Health Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • f Obesity Prevention Program, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Objective To assess racial/ethnic differences in the diet in young children and the explanatory role of maternal BMI, immigrant status and perception of child's weight. Design Among white, black and Hispanic 3-year-olds, we used negative binomial and linear regression to examine associations of race/ethnicity with foods and nutrients assessed by a validated FFQ. Setting Project Viva, Boston (MA), USA. Subjects Children aged 3 years (n 898). Results Mean age was 38·3 (sd 2·8) months; 464 (52 %) were boys and 127 mothers (14 %) were immigrants. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, black and Hispanic children (v. white) had a higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (rate ratio (RR) = 2·59 (95 % CI 1·95, 3·48) and RR = 1·59 (95 % CI 1·07, 2·47), respectively) and lower intakes of skimmed/1 % milk (RR = 0·42 (95 % CI 0·33, 0·53) and RR = 0·43 (95 % CI 0·31, 0·61), respectively) and trans-fat (-0·10 (95 % CI-0·18,-0·03) % of energy and-0·15 (95 % CI-0·26,-0·04) % of energy, respectively). Among Hispanics only, a lower intake of snack food (RR = 0·83 (95 % CI 0·72, 0·98)) was found and among blacks only, a higher intake of fast food (RR = 1·28 (95 % CI 1·05, 1·55)) and lower intakes of saturated fat (-0·86 (95 % CI-1·48,-0·23) % of energy), dietary fibre (0·85 (95 % CI 0·08, 1·62) g/d) and Ca (-120 (95 % CI-175,-65) mg/d) were found. Being born outside the USA was associated with more healthful nutrient intakes and less fast food. Conclusions Three-year-old black and Hispanic (v. white) children ate more sugar-sweetened beverages and less low-fat dairy. Total energy intake was substantially higher in Hispanic children. Snack food (Hispanic children) and fat intakes (black children) tended to be lower. Children of immigrants ate less fast food and bad fats and more fibre. Copyright © Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute 2013.

Author Keywords

Race/ethnicity Maternal perception diet Acculturation Pre-school children

Index Keywords

Caucasian caloric intake human comparative study diet feeding behavior ethnology Hispanic Americans United States Humans migrant fast food Energy Intake Hispanic Fast Foods male Emigrants and Immigrants Black person preschool child female African Continental Ancestry Group Child, Preschool questionnaire Mothers standards Questionnaires mother adult European Continental Ancestry Group Food Habits Diet Surveys
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84903127220&doi=10.1017%2fS1368980013001183&partnerID=40&md5=bb3c15beacd79e1186ec48bfc5fa9fdb
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980013001183
ISSN: 13689800
Cited by: 13
Original Language: English