Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #308370
Title: Differences in adolescent dietary behaviors by SES

Author
item CULLEN, KAREN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item DAVE, JAYNA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item CHEN, ANN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2014
Publication Date: 5/23/2014
Citation: Cullen, K., Dave, J., Chen, A. 2014. Differences in adolescent dietary behaviors by SES [abstract]. International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Annual Conference, May 21-24, 2014, San Diego, California. Poster P407.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Little is known about how socioeconomic status (SES) affects dietary intake among adolescents. This study assessed whether dietary behaviors of 12- to 17-year-old adolescents differed by SES, using eligibility for free or reduced price (FRP) school meals as a measure of SES. After parental consent was obtained, 391 adolescents used an online survey to report demographics, height, weight, and FRP status. They also reported frequency of consumption of 100% juice, fruit, vegetables, sugar sweetened beverages (SSB), and milk over the past week using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey questions. Mean daily intakes were compared by FRP meal status (yes/no) using analysis of covariance controlling for gender, age, ethnicity, and BMI. Most participants were Black (40%) or White (38%); 45% were male; 33% were overweight/obese; and 33% were from low SES families based on eligibility for FRP meals. Participants eligible for FRP meals (low SES) reported greater consumption of SSB (1.4 vs. 0.94 times/day; p<0.001) but less milk (0.75 vs. 1.15 times/ day; p<0.001), compared with those not receiving FRP meals (high SES). There were no differences in juice, fruit, or vegetable consumption. SES influenced beverage intake in this group of adolescents. Low SES adolescents reported significantly greater frequency of SSB and lower frequency of milk consumption. However, all the adolescents reported inadequate milk consumption compared to the recommendations. Future research, in addition to school-based, should target family and environmental influences on beverage consumption in order to improve dietary intakes among adolescents.