ARS | Publication request: Whole grain consumption and body weight measures in children and adolescents: Results from NHANES 1999-2004

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2008
Publication Date: April 1, 2009
Citation: Zanovec, M., O'Neil, C.E., Cho, S.S., Nicklas, T.A. 2009. Whole grain consumption and body weight measures in children and adolescents: Results from NHANES 1999-2004 [abstract]. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Bilogy 23:551.5.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship of whole grain (WG) consumption and anthropometric measures in children and adolescents using a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004 in children and 6-12 y (n=3,868) and adolescents 13-18 y (n=4,931) that were categorized by WG consumption: < Mean number of servings, = Mean to < 1.5, = 1.5 to < 3, and = 3 servings of WG. Outcome measures were mean body mass index (BMI), BMI percentiles, BMI z-scores, and waist circumferences (WC). Analysis of covariance, adjusted for gender, ethnicity, cereal fiber and total energy intake was used to estimate body measures. Significance was p = 0.05. Mean WG intake was 0.59 and 0.63 servings/day in children 6-12 y and adolescents 13-18 y, respectively. In children 6-12 y, WG intake was not associated with BMI or WC. In adolescents 13-18 y, BMI but not WC, was significantly lower in the highest WG consumption group. Overall consumption of WG was below current recommendations of = 3 servings per day. Only in adolescents was this level of intake associated with lower BMI z-scores.