Food intake in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study from 2009/2010 to 2015/2016

Abstract

The aim was to describe food intake over time in children and adolescents, with respect to age and gender. The present study was a repeated cross-sectional study using self-reported data from a health questionnaire. Data were collected from the School Health Services in south-east Sweden from 44 297 students, 10, 13-14 and 16 years of age, 48 % girls and 52 % boys from 2009/2010 to 2015/2016. Reported intakes for eight foods were analysed in relation to the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. Seventeen per cent of the students reported an intake in line with the recommendations for at least six of the eight foods fish, vegetables, fruit, mealtime beverages, juice/chocolate drinks, sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets/snacks and pastries. Intake of at least two fruits a day was the recommendation that was followed by the lowest proportion of students (30 %), and this result was stable over the study period. There was a gradual increase over time in the proportion of students who reported an intake in line with the recommendations. Younger students compared to older students, as well as girls compared to boys, reported intakes in line with the recommendations to a statistically significant larger extent. Few students reported intakes in line with the recommendations, although the quality of food intake seems to improve over time. The present results indicate a deterioration in reported food intake in the early years of adolescence. Finding methods to support all children and especially older adolescents to eat healthier, including eating more fruit, is of great importance to public health.

Keywords: Adolescents; Children; Eating habits; Food intake; IHME, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; NNR, Nordic Nutrition Recommendations; SSBs, sugar-sweetened beverages; Time trend.

Fig. 1.

Flow chart of included students.

Fig. 2.

Proportions of students (n 44 297), aged 10, 13–14 and 16 years, who reported an intake in line with the NNR for zero to eight of the foods, between the academic years 2009/2010 up to 2015/2016.