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Background/objectives: Programs to address obesity are a high priority for public policy especially for young children. Research into dietary determinants of obesity is challenging but important for rational planning of interventions to prevent obesity, given that both diet and energy expenditure influence weight status. We investigated whether early life dietary factors were predictive of weight status at 8 years in a cohort of Australian children., Subjects/methods: We used data from the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study-a birth cohort at high risk of asthma. Dietary data (3-day weighed food records) were collected at 18 months and height, weight and waist circumference were collected at 8 years. We assessed the relationship between dietary predictor variables and measures of adiposity using linear regression., Results: Intakes of protein, meat and fruit at age 18 months were positively associated with measures of adiposity at age 8 years, namely, body mass index and/or waist circumference. We also showed a significant negative relationship between these measures of adiposity at 8 years and intake at 18 months of dairy foods as a percent of total energy, and intake of energy dense cereal-based foods such as cookies and crackers., Conclusions: This birth cohort study with rigorous design, measures and analyses, has shown a number of associations between early dietary intake and subsequent adiposity that contribute to the growing evidence base in this important field., (© 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved)

Objective: To measure the types and quantities of energy-dense, nutrient-poor 'extra' foods consumed by Australian children and adolescents and their contribution to total energy and nutrient intakes., Design, Setting and Subjects: We used data from 3007 children, aged 2-18 years, who participated in the nationally representative 1995 National Nutrition Survey. Intake was determined by 24-h recall and 'extra' foods were defined using principles outlined in the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE) and by applying cut points for maximum amounts of fat and sugar within each food category., Results: All children (99.8%) consumed at least one 'extra' food and the most commonly consumed were margarine, sugar-sweetened soft drinks, cordials and sugar. 'Extra' foods contributed 41% of daily energy intake. Those foods contributing most to energy intake were fried potatoes (4.2%), sugar-sweetened soft drinks (3.3%), ice cream/ice confection (3.1%) and cordials (2.7%). Age and sex were important determinants of 'extra' food intake, with males and older children generally consuming more and different types of, 'extra' foods than females and younger children. 'Extra' foods contributed 19% protein, 47% total fat, 47% saturated fat, 54% sugar, and approximately 20-25% of selected micronutrients to the diet. Calcium and zinc intakes from core foods were below 70% of the recommended dietary intakes for adolescent girls., Conclusions: 'Extra' foods are over-consumed at two to four times the recommended limits and contribute excessively to the energy, fat and sugar intakes of Australian children, while providing relatively few micronutrients. This is of concern in terms of children's weight and nutrient status.

Summary: Background: The impact of community‐based obesity prevention efforts on child nutrition has not been adequately studied. Objective: Examine relationships between number, type and intensity of community programs and policies (CPPs) and child nutrition. Methods: An observational study of 5138 children (grades K–8) in 130 U.S. communities was conducted in 2013–2015. CPPs were identified by 10–14 key informant interviews per community. CPPs were characterized based on: count, intensity, number of different strategies used and number of different behaviours targeted. Scores for the prior 6 years were calculated separately for CPPs that addressed primarily nutrition, primarily physical activity (PA) or total combined. Child intakes were calculated from a dietary screener and dietary behaviours were based on survey responses. Multi‐level statistical models assessed associations between CPP indices and nutrition measures, adjusting for child and community‐level covariates. Results: Implementing more types of strategies across all CPPs was related to lower intakes of total added sugar (when CPPs addressed primarily PA), sugar‐sweetened beverages (for nutrition and PA CPPs) and energy‐dense foods of minimal nutritional value (for total CPPs). Addressing more behaviours was related to higher intakes of fruit and vegetables (for nutrition and total CPPs) and fibre (total CPPs). Higher count and intensity (PA and total CPPs) were related to more consumption of lower fat compared with higher fat milk. A higher count (PA CPPs) was related to fewer energy‐dense foods and whole grains. No other relationships were significant at P < 0.05. Conclusion: Multiple characteristics of CPPs to prevent obesity appear important to improve children's diets. What is already known about this subject? Multi‐component and multi‐sector community interventions are recommended to prevent child obesity.Little is known about whether community programs and policies implemented in the U.S. are improving child nutrition; a better understanding of these efforts and their relationship to child nutrition can help inform community efforts. What this study adds? We conducted an observational study collecting dietary data from over 5000 children ages 4–15 years and retrospective data on community programs and policies in a diverse sample of 130 communities across the U.S.Different features of community policies and programs were related to better child nutrition – there is likely no 'single' or 'simple' solution.Policy and food environments that support children''s healthy food choices in conjunction with delivering information and enhancing skills are associated with better diets.It is important to target changes in multiple dietary behaviours – not only increasing healthy foods and beverages, but also limiting less healthy ones. This article is part of the supplement: The Healthy Communities Study: Examining Community Programs, Policies and Other Characteristics in Relation to Child Weight, Diet, and Physical Activity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: The influence of community characteristics on the effectiveness of childhood obesity prevention efforts is not well understood. Objective: Examine the interaction of community characteristics with the relationship between community programmes and policies (CPPs) and dietary intake. Methods: An observational study of 5138 children in grades K‐8 in 130 US communities was conducted in 2013–2015. Key informant interviews identified and characterized CPPs. CPP scores were generated for the number of target behaviours (CPP‐Behav) and the number of behaviour change strategies (CPP‐Strat) addressed by all CPPs and CPPs with nutrition goals over the prior 6 years in each community. Dietary intake was assessed by dietary screener and included intake of sugar from sugar‐sweetened beverages; energy‐dense foods; fruits and vegetables; whole grains; and fibre. Multivariate statistical models assessed the interactions between US region, urbanicity, community‐level income, and community‐level race/ethnicity and CPP scores in relation to dietary intake. Results: CPP‐Strat was positively associated with healthier dietary intakes in the Northeast and West, and in high Hispanic communities; the reverse was true in the South, and in high African–American and low‐income communities. The CPP‐Behav was positively associated with healthier dietary intakes in the South and rural areas, and the reverse was true in the West. Conclusion: The relationships between CPP index scores and dietary intake were most strongly influenced by region and urbanicity and to a lesser extent by community‐level race/ethnicity and income. Findings suggest that different considerations may be needed for childhood obesity prevention efforts in communities with different characteristics. What is already known about this subject: There are disparities in obesity, dietary intake and physical activity levels by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status and region in the US.Similar multi-component and multisector approaches to prevention of obesity are implemented across the country in communities with diverse characteristics.Little is known about the relative effectiveness of obesity prevention efforts in communities with different characteristics. What this study adds: We found that region, urbanicity, community-level income, and community level race/ethnicity modify the association between childhood obesity prevention efforts and dietary intake.We identified which aspects of obesity prevention efforts appear to influence the association between childhood obesity prevention efforts and dietary intake in communities with different characteristics.Our findings suggest that different approaches to childhood obesity prevention and promotion of healthy eating may be needed depending on region and urbanicity, and to a more limited extent, community income and race/ethnicity. This article is part of the supplement: The Healthy Communities Study: Examining Community Programs, Policies and Other Characteristics in Relation to Child Weight, Diet, and Physical Activity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]