Trends in energy intake among US children by eating location and food source, 1977-2006

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the influence of location of food consumption and preparation upon daily energy intake of children.

Objective: To examine trends in daily energy intake by children for foods eaten at home or away from home, by source of preparation, and for combined categories of eating location and food source.

Subjects: The analysis uses data from 29,217 children aged 2 to 18 years from the 1977-1978 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey, 1989-1991 and 1994-1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, and 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

Methods: Nationally representative weighted percentages and means of daily energy intake by eating location were analyzed for trends from 1977 to 2006. Comparisons by food source were examined from 1994 to 2006. Analyses were repeated for three age groups: 2 to 6 years, 7 to 12 years, and 13 to 18 years. Difference testing was conducted using a t test.

Results: Increased energy intake (+179 kcal/day) by children from 1977-2006 was associated with a major increase in energy eaten away from home (+255 kcal/day). The percentage of daily energy eaten away from home increased from 23.4% to 33.9% from 1977-2006. No further increase was observed from 1994-2006, but the sources of energy shifted. The percentage of energy from fast food increased to surpass intake from schools and become the largest contributor to foods prepared away from home for all age groups. For foods eaten away from home, the percentage of daily energy from stores increased to become the largest source of energy eaten away from home. Fast food eaten at home and store-bought food eaten away from home increased significantly.

Conclusions: Eating location and food source significantly influence daily energy intake for children. Foods prepared away from home, including fast food eaten at home and store-prepared food eaten away from home, are fueling the increase in total energy intake. However, further research using alternative data sources is necessary to verify that store-bought foods eaten away from home are increasingly store-prepared.

Figure 1

Daily Energy Intake by Location of Consumption, 1977–78 to 2003–06a ^aData are presented with each bar representing the total mean kcal/d for the age group of children and survey specified, divided into kcal/d eaten at home and eaten away-from-home. Percentages indicate the % kcal/d eaten at home. Data were obtained from Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (NFCS) 1977–78 (n=11499), Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals(CSFII) 1989–91 (n=3122), CSFII 1994–98 (n=7952), and National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2003–06 (n=6644). *Percentage of energy from food eaten at home was significantly different from the previous survey for the specified age group, P≤0.01 (t test) **Percentage of energy from food eaten at home was significantly different from 1977–78 to 2003–06 for the specified age group, P≤0.01 (t test)

Figure 2

Daily Energy Intake by Source of Preparation, 1994–98 to 2003–06a ^aData are presented with each bar representing the total mean kcal per day for the age group of children and survey specified, divided into mean kcal per day from each source of food preparation. Percentages indicate the %kcal/d from each food source. Data were obtained from CSFII 1994–98 (n=7952) and NHANES 2003–06 (n=6644). ^bVending contributed less than 1% kcal/d for all age groups and surveys. ^cSource of preparation for store-bought foods is marked as Home/Store to indicate that the available data cannot distinguish between store-bought foods that are prepared at home and store-bought foods that are fully store-prepared at purchase. *Percentage of energy was significantly different from 1994–98, P≤0.01 (t test)

Figure 3

Daily Energy Intake from Store-bought Food and Fast Food by Eating Location at home and Away-from-Home, Ages 2–18, 1994–98 to 2003–06a, ^aData were obtained from CSFII 1994–98 (n=7952) and NHANES 2003–06 (n=6644). ^bData are presented as absolute kcal per day eaten from store-bought foods by children ages 2–18 for the specified survey. Each bar represents mean kcal from store-bought foods, divided by eating location away-from-home or at home. Percentages indicate the percent of kcal from store-bought foods eaten away-from-home or at home. Store-bought foods cannot be further distinguished as prepared at home or prepared at the store. ^cData are presented as absolute kcal per day eaten from fast food establishments for children ages 2–18 for the specified survey. Each bar represents mean kcal from fast food per day, divided by eating location away-from-home or at home. Percentages indicate the percent of kcal from fast foods eaten away-from-home or at home. * Percentage of energy was significantly different from 1994–98, P≤0.01 (t test)