1. Factors Correlated With Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) Intake in Preschool-Aged Children and Association With Weight.
- Author
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Carroll JE, Sturgeon SR, Bertone-Johnson E, VanKim N, Longacre MR, Dalton MA, and Emond JA
- Subjects
- Humans, Child, Preschool, Prospective Studies, Fast Foods, Energy Intake, Surveys and Questionnaires, Food Handling, Diet, Food, Processed
- Abstract
Objective: Understand the correlates of ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and examine the association of UPF on body mass index in children aged 3-5 years., Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of 3-5-year-olds/parent, followed 1-year between March 2014 and October 2016. Usual UPF intake from 2 3-day food records completed 1 year apart, a standardized nutrient database customized with child-specific foods, and a NOVA food classification system was used. Child/parent characteristics and media use were measured via parent-reported surveys. Child weight/height objectively measured., Setting: New Hampshire community., Participants: Six hundred and sixty-seven parent-child dyads were screened, and 624 were enrolled with 90% follow-up., Main Outcome Measure(s): Primary outcome: identify correlates of UPF intake., Secondary Outcome: determine if UPF intake is associated with body mass index change., Analysis: Adjusted β linear regression, linear regression, P <0.05., Results: Ultra-processed food accounted for 67.6% of total caloric intake. In adjusted models, children's UPF intake was positively associated with increasing child age, greater hours watching television, and more frequent parent soda/fast-food intake. Ultra-processed food intake was negatively associated with higher parent education and reported race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White. There was no association between UPF intake and weight., Conclusions and Implications: There are several predictors of UPF intake in young children. Family-level interventions could be implemented to encourage the intake of minimally processed foods before and during preschool years., (Copyright © 2023 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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