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Lookup NU author(s): Angela Craigie, Dr Amelia Lake, Megan Gibbons, Professor Ashley AdamsonORCiD, Emeritus Professor Andrew Rugg-Gunn, Professor John Mathers
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The stability of food intake between adolescence and adulthood: a 21-year follow-up. By A.M. CRAIGIE, A.A. LAKE, C. WOOD, M. GIBBONS, S. WEBSTER, A.J. ADAMSON, A.J. RUGG-GUNN and J.C. MATHERS, University of Newcastle, Human Nutrition Research Centre, Wellcome Research Laboratories, RVI, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 4LP. Studies of the diet of adolescents in the UK demonstrate that dietary habits known to be detrimental to health in adulthood are evident at an early age. For example, Gregory et al (2000) found 4-18 year olds in the UK to have a frequent consumption of fatty and sugary foods and low consumption of fruit and vegetables. Concerns have therefore been expressed regarding the diet of children and adolescents and the continuation of these dietary habits into adulthood (HEA, 1995; Gaziano, 1998). This study aimed to investigate the extent to which these concerns may be justified by determining the stability of food intake of a group of adolescents followed up 21 years later in adulthood. The investigation involved 202 individuals from whom dietary data were collected in 1979-80 (mean age 11.6 years) (Hackett et al. 1984) and again in 2000-1 (mean age 32.5 years). Dietary data were collected at both time-points using two 3 d estimated food diaries followed by an interview to determine portion sizes using the method considered most appropriate at the time, i.e. calibrated food models in 1979-80 and a photographic food atlas (Nelson et al. 1997) in 2000-1. Foods consumed were allocated to one, or a combination of, the five food groups of the ‘Balance of Good Health’ food selection guide (HEA, 1994) according to Gatenby et al. (1995). The weight of food eaten from each of the five food groups was calculated (percentage of total weight of food consumed) and Pearson correlation coefficients generated to provide an estimate of the stability of food intake. 11.6 years % Total food weight 32.5 years % Total food weight 11.6 years v. 32.5 years Mean SD Mean SD Pearson correlation coefficient p Bread, other Cereals & Potatoes 30.4 7.0 29.9 6.8 0.24 <0.01 Foods Containing Fat and/or Sugar 21.1 6.1 12.3 6.2 0.01 0.84 Fruit and Vegetables 14.6 6.5 25.1 10.8 0.25 <0.01 Meat, Fish and Alternatives 16.7 5.3 17.1 6.4 0.17 0.02 Milk and Dairy Products 17.2 7.6 15.6 7.9 0.10 0.16 The HEA guide advises that a balanced diet should consist of around 33% fruit and vegetables, 33% bread, other cereals and potatoes, 8% foods containing fat and/or sugar, 12% meat, fish and alternatives and 15% milk and dairy products (Gatenby et al. 1995). A shift in the group’s food intake towards the recommendations had occurred with age, most notably with a decrease in foods containing fat and/or sugar and an increase in fruit and vegetables. Nevertheless, at both ages, intakes of foods containing fat and/or sugar, meat, fish and alternatives were higher, and fruit, vegetables, bread, other cereals and potatoes lower than currently recommended. In addition, although there was significant evidence of tracking of relative intake of bread, cereals and potatoes (P<0.01), fruit and vegetables (P<0.01), and meat, fish and alternatives (P=0.02) between 11.6 and 32.5 years, the correlations were not strong. In conclusion, food intake patterns had changed considerably from early adolescence through to adulthood in a direction more in line with the current recommendations. The predictive value of an adolescent’s food intake of their intake in adulthood was found to be significant, but not strong. Further investigations will consider the extent to which this is influenced by factors such as social class, gender and educational level, as well as assessing tracking in terms of relative nutrient intakes. The project was funded by The Wellcome Trust (057995/Z/99/Z). Gatenby SJ, Hunt P, Rayner M (1995) Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 8, 323-334. Gaziano, JM (1998) New England Journal of Medicine 338 (23), 1690-1692. Gregory J, Lowe S, Bates CJ, Prentice A, Jackson LJ, Smithers G, Wenlock R, Farron M (2000) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: young people aged 4-18 years. London: HMSO. Hackett AF, Rugg-Gunn AJ, Appleton DR, Eastoe JE, Jenkins GN (1984) British Journal of Nutrition 51, 67-75. Health Education Authority (1995) Diet and health in school age children. University of London, Institute of Education. Health Education Authority (1994) The Balance of Good Health. London: HMSO. Nelson M, Atkinson M, Meyer J (1997) A photographic atlas of food portion sizes. London, MAFF Publications.
Author(s): Craigie AC, Lake AA, Wood C, Gibbons M, Webster S, Adamson AJ, Rugg-Gunn AJ, Mathers JC
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
Year of Conference: 2002
Pages: 64A-64A
ISSN: 0029-6651
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0029665102000253
DOI: 10.1017/S0029665102000253
