Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102902

Sibylle Kranz, PhD, RD, Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, 5-G Henderson Building, State College, PA 16802, 814-865-2138, sxk72@psu.edu and Elizabeth Hill Ruder, RD, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, 5F Henderson Building, State College, PA 16802.

Background: Substantial health benefits are attributed to a high-fiber diet. Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for fiber increased recommendations for preschoolers by more than two-fold from (age+5) to 14 grams (g) of total fiber per 1,000 kcal total energy; assuming 5g/d of functional fiber this results in 14g/d and 20g/d for 2-3 and 4-5 year olds, respectively. Objective: Our study investigated socio-demographic predictors and time watched TV on fiber density (FD) (g of fiber/1,000kcal) or the odds of meeting the DRI for fiber. Design: Data of preschoolers of the 1994-1996, and 1998 USDA CSFII (n=5,437) were employed to develop multivariate regression or logit models, stratified by income and including various interaction terms. Results: Only 12% of preschoolers, mostly young children met the DRI (16%, 19% of 2-and 3-year-olds compared to only 5% and 8% of 4- and 5-year-olds). Average consumption was 6.4, 11.7, and 19.2g/d (5.1, 7.4, and 10.1g/1,000 kcal) for children with fiber intakes below “age+5”, meeting “age+5”, and meeting the DRI, respectively. Predictors of FD included ethnicity, region and urbanicity, or maternal education. Additionally, employment status in high- and WIC or food stamp participation and daycare attendance in low-income children were significant. Odds ratios (OR) reflected these findings, i.e. low-income children participating in WIC and food stamp were more than twice as likely to meet the DRI than children who were eligible but did not participate (OR 2.2) Conclusion: Our data indicate that WIC participation and maternal education/employment are important predictors of FD and the odds of meeting the DRI.

Learning Objectives: Learning objectives

At the conclusion of the session the participant will
• Have gained understanding of the importance of dietary fiber intake in 2-5 year olds.
• Be able to name at least three socio-demographic characteristics that predict dietary fiber density or meeting the DRI for fiber in 2-5 year olds.
• Have developed understanding of the interactions of socio-demographic characteristics on children’s fiber intake.

Keywords: Children, Child Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.