背景:肥胖不成比例地影响来自低收入家庭的儿童以及来自种族和少数民族的儿童。吃零食和体重状况之间的关系尚不清楚,尽管众所周知,零食是能量和营养摄入的重要饮食事件,特别是在幼儿中。这项试点研究的目的是检查在底特律四个中心参加HeadStart计划的少数民族学龄前儿童的零食摄入量,密歇根州,并按儿童体重状况调查差异。
方法:此次要数据分析使用了来自55名非洲裔美国儿童的便利样本(44%的女孩,平均年龄=3.8岁)。通过饮食实习生直接观察儿童,平均5天获得零食摄入量数据,然后根据美国农业部(USDA)的膳食模式转换为食品组,并为每个孩子平均。系统地收集身高和体重测量值,并使用年龄百分位数的BMI将儿童分为体重类别。一个样本,进行配对样本和独立样本t检验以检验均值内和均值之间的差异.
结果:基于年龄百分位数的BMI,72.7%的样本体重不足/健康,27.3%的样本超重/肥胖。平均(平均值±SD)牛奶摄入量(0.76±0.34)和总体水果/蔬菜摄入量(0.77±0.34)显着低于一份USDA服务,而谷物和面包的平均摄入量(2.04±0.89),肉/肉交替(2.20±1.89)和其他食物(1.43±1.08)显着高于一份USDA(p≤0.05)。提供罐装水果与新鲜水果相比,儿童吃得更多(0.93±0.57vs.0.65±0.37,p=0.007)。与体重不足/健康组相比,超重/肥胖组的牛奶摄入量明显更高(0.86±0.48vs.0.72±0.27,p=0.021],没有发现零食摄入量和体重类别之间的关系。仅在超重/肥胖组中,牛奶和新鲜水果的摄入量与一份USDA没有显着差异。
结论:研究结果表明,无论体重状况如何,低收入少数民族学龄前儿童在提供不太健康的零食时食用的份量更大。应继续努力在学龄前环境中提供健康的休闲食品,以预防肥胖并促进更健康的饮食习惯。
BACKGROUND: Obesity disproportionately affects children from low-income families and those from racial and ethnic minorities. The relationship between snacking and weight status remains unclear, although snacking is known to be an important eating episode for energy and nutrient intake particularly in young children. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the snack intake of
minority preschool children enrolled in the Head Start Program in four centers in Detroit, Michigan, and investigate differences by child weight status.
METHODS: This secondary data analysis used snack time food observation and anthropometric data from a convenience sample of 55 African American children (44 % girls, mean age = 3.8 years). Snack intake data was obtained over a mean of 5 days through direct observation of children by dietetic interns, and later converted into food group servings according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) meal patterns and averaged for each child. Height and weight measurements were systematically collected and BMI-for-age percentiles were used to classify children into weight categories. One sample, paired samples and independent samples t-tests were performed to test for differences within and between means.
RESULTS: Based on BMI-for-age percentiles, 72.7 % of the sample was under/healthy weight and 27.3 % was overweight/obese. Average (mean ± SD) intake of milk (0.76 ± 0.34) and overall fruits/vegetables (0.77 ± 0.34) was significantly lower than one USDA serving, while average intake of grains and breads (2.04 ± 0.89), meat/meat alternates (2.20 ± 1.89) and other foods (1.43 ± 1.08) was significantly higher than one USDA serving (p ≤ 0.05). Children ate more when offered canned versus fresh fruits (0.93 ± 0.57 vs. 0.65 ± 0.37, p = 0.007). Except for a significantly higher milk intake in the overweight/obese group compared to the under/healthy weight group (0.86 ± 0.48 vs. 0.72 ± 0.27, p = 0.021], no relationship was found between snack food intake and weight category. Only in the overweight/obese group was the intake of milk and fresh fruits not significantly different than one USDA serving.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that regardless of weight status low-income
minority preschool children are consuming larger serving sizes when offered less healthy versus healthier snack foods. Continued efforts should be made to provide healthful snack foods at preschool settings to prevent obesity and promote healthier food habits.