The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64119

Amy D. Eades, MS, RD¹, Lea Yerby, MS², and Linda L. Knol, PhD, RD¹. (1) Department of Human Nutrition, University of Alabama, Box 870158, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, 205-348-6157, ade14@comcast.net, (2) The Department of Health Science, The University of Alabama, Box 870311, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0311

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between food insufficiency, a proxy measure for food insecurity, and overall dietary quality among children 2-8 years of age. Overall dietary quality was measured using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), a tool that measures overall adherence to the U. S. Dietary Guidelines. Two samples of low-income (< 1.85 of the Poverty Index Ratio) children ages 2-3 (n=1242) and 4-8 years of age (n=1506) who participated in the 1994-1996, 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) were selected and staged into three categories: food sufficient, food insufficient with limitations and food insufficient. Using SUDAAN, an Analysis of Variance was performed to test for significant differences in HEI scores over the three levels of food sufficiency status (p£0.01). After controlling for participation in food assistance programs and other factors affecting dietary intake, food sufficiency status was not related to overall dietary quality among children ages 2-3 (p=0.06) and 4-8 years (p=0.53). However, the overall mean HEI scores for 2-3 year olds and 4-8 year olds were 72 and 66, respectively. HEI scores over 80 imply a good diet, while those that range between 51 and 79 indicate a diet that needs improvement. This suggests that the diets of low-income American children on average need improvement. Therefore, nutrition education must be coupled with the availability of foods that contribute to a balanced healthy diet in order to achieve optimal overall dietary quality.

Learning Objectives:

• • Describe overall dietary quality among low-income children, 2-8 years of age, using the Healthy Eating Index.
  • Identify the relationship between household food sufficiency status and overall dietary quality of low-income children 2-8 years of age.

Keywords: Children,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.