December

December 2002 Highlights from the Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Below are summaries of several nutrition research articles published in the December 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. For more information, or to receive a faxed copy of a JADA article, please e-mail Bridget McManamon at bmcmana@eatright.org.

Children's fat consumption varies by meal and day of week

Current dietary recommendations suggest that children and adults should consume no more than 30 percent of calories from fat. But researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that children are surpassing that number. In fact, they found that certain days of the week and certain meals lead to higher dietary fat consumption among children. Researchers evaluated more than 500 fourth- to sixth-grade students and found that only 13 percent met the recommendation to consume 30 percent or less of energy from fat. In addition, compared with weekdays, children consumed higher percent of energy from fat on the weekends. Also, more energy was consumed at lunch and dinner meals compared with breakfast and snack meals. Researchers also found that children with fathers or mothers who earned a college degree reported consuming lower percent of energy from fat and significantly low-fat eating practices than those children whose fathers or mothers had less education. In addition, children living in two-parent homes reported significantly higher energy intakes and more low-fat practices than children living in a one-parent home.

"Health care providers and care givers need to teach children, in interesting, creative ways, how to make low-fat food choices and why it matters that they do," said registered dietitian and ADA spokesperson Susan Moores. "In addition, parents should make healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods, easily available at home, encourage consumption of these foods and show children by example how these foods can be part of every meal and snack."

Position of the American Dietetic Association: Domestic food and nutrition security

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 11 million households in the U.S. experienced food insecurity in 2000. Food insecurity negatively affects dietary intake and nutritional status for children and adults, leading to poor health and increased risk for chronic diseases. ADA's position statement is as follows:

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that systematic and sustained action is needed to bring an end to domestic food insecurity and hunger and to achieve food and nutrition security for all in the U.S. The association believes that immediate and long-range interventions are needed, including adequate funding for and increased utilization of food and nutrition assistance programs, the inclusion of food and nutrition education in all programs providing food and nutrition assistance, and innovative programs to promote and support the economic self-sufficiency of individuals and families, to end domestic hunger and food insecurity.

"Promoting optimal nutrition and well-being for all people is the ultimate goal of the American Dietetic Association," said registered dietitian and ADA spokesperson Claudia Gonzalez. "Dietetics professionals understand the effects of inadequate dietary intake and food insecurity on health and well-being, therefore, we are uniquely positioned to play leadership roles and collaborate with health departments and organizations to eliminate food insecurity in the United States."

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