What do children eat in the Delta: Results from development of a regional child food frequency questionnaire

Authors: CHAMPAGNE, CATHERINE - PENNINGTON BIO MED CTR; MCCABE SELLERS, BEVERLY; STRICKLAND, EARLINE - DELTA NIRI; STUFF, JANICE - CNRC BAYLOR COL OF MED; CONNELL, CARROL - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI; BOGLE, MARGARET

Submitted to: Annual Scientific Meeting NAASO, The Obesity Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2007
Publication Date: 10/20/2007
Citation: Champagne, C., McCabe Sellers, B.J., Strickland, E., Stuff, J., Connell, C., Bogle, M.L. 2007. What do children eat in the Delta: Results from development of a regional child food frequency questionnaire [abstract]. Proceedings, Annual Meeting of the Obesity Society, October 20-24, 2007, New Orleans, Louisiana. Abstract 720-P 2007:15:A222.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The epidemic of obesity and the fact that children are currently at risk presents challenges in both estimating current food intakes and developing appropriate interventions to address the problem. Obtaining eating patterns and nutritional intakes of children presents a first step in evaluating the extent of the problem. While child food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) have been developed, none are specific to the Delta population. Food intake data collected in several surveys led to the development of a validated regional adult FFQ. Since interventions for obesity prevention target children, a need exists to modify the adult FFQ to be specific to children, in order to identify food consumption patterns of rural overweight children in the Mississippi Delta through development of an FFQ for this population. Development began with a review of the Delta adult FFQ for appropriate wording, categories, and frequencies of consumption. Changes made in the FFQ resulted in 10% item reduction. Children’s food intakes from Delta NIRI regional surveys yielded specific food data and associated nutrient composition data to construct a database to analyze the FFQs. The instrument was piloted with 70 sixth grade students in the region. Only 46 subjects reported weight and height; 39% (n=18) were above the 85th percentile, while 2 (4%) were under the 15th percentile. The instrument was burdensome and underreporting was suspected. Overall, the highest frequencies of consumption were in the categories of luncheon meats and sausages, desserts and sweets, snacks, and cold cereals. White breads were consumed more than whole grains. Consumption of regular soft drinks, fruit drinks and sport drinks exceeded mild consumption. French fry consumption exceeded that of any other vegetable. Fruit juices and fruit consumption were low, the highest consumption noted for apples, applesauce and pears. The FFQ is still a work in progress, researchers attempting to make it less burdensome and perhaps looking at ways to target only specific foods as opposed to the total diet. If interventions focus on increasing fruit and vegetable intakes, as an example, a FFQ specific to those intakes may be more practical and might ease administration resulting in more valuable data.