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Interventions and public health nutrition

Comparison of childhood size and dietary differences at age 4 years between three European countries

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 68, pages 786–792 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Obesity in childhood is very common in Europe. It may be linked to diet, and intakes of protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been investigated. The study aims to investigate child size and dietary differences at the age of 4 years between three European countries and to assess dietary adequacy.

Subjects/Methods:

A total of 161 4-year-old children from Spain, Germany and Hungary, whose mothers participated in a pregnancy micronutrient supplementation trial, were included in this analysis. Child size was assessed by standardised anthropometry and diet calculated from parent-completed food frequency questionnaires. Adequacy of the diet was evaluated using US guidelines.

Results:

The Spanish children had a higher mean body mass index (BMI) (16.4±1.5) compared with German (15.7±1.0) and Hungarian children (14.9±1.4, P<0.01). In Spanish children, dietary intakes were higher in animal protein density, particularly from dairy foods, were little different in total protein density and slightly lower in n-6 PUFA density compared with the intakes in the other groups. Dietary intakes of most children (% contribution to energy) were higher than those recommended for protein, saturated fat and added sugar.

Conclusions:

Spanish children had a higher mean BMI compared with German and Hungarian children. Diets taken by Spanish children may be more obesogenic than those taken by German or Hungarian children. In the present study, many children in all three countries were consuming diets that were high in protein, saturated fat and sugar.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the families who took part in this study, and the whole NUHEAL team, which includes interviewers, research scientists, volunteers, managers and nurses. The research leading to these results has received funding from the Commission of the European Community–specific Research and Technological Development Programme, ‘Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources,’ within the 5th Framework Programme [BIOMED contract no. QLK1-CT-1999-00888 NUHEAL (Nutraceuticals for a healthier life)], within the 6th Framework Programme [Priority 5.4.3.1. Food quality and safety. Contract no. 007036-EARNEST Project (EARly Nutrition programming-long term follow up of Efficacy and Safety Trials and integrated epidemiological, genetic, animal, consumer and economic research)], and within 7th Framework Programme (FP7/2008–2013) under grant agreement n° 212652 (NUTRIMENTHE Project ‘The Effect of Diet on the Mental Performance of Children’). This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission of the European Community and in no way anticipates future policy in this area.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. EURISTIKOS Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

    M J Piqueras

  2. Department of Paediatrics, EURISTIKOS Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

    C Campoy

  3. Deparment of Statistics, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

    M T Miranda

  4. Department of Paediatrics, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary

    T Decsi

  5. Dr von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    B Koletzko

  6. Department of Nutrition, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Clifton, Bristol, UK

    P M Emmett

Authors
  1. M J Piqueras
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  2. C Campoy
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  3. M T Miranda
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  4. T Decsi
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  5. B Koletzko
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  6. P M Emmett
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C Campoy.

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Piqueras, M., Campoy, C., Miranda, M. et al. Comparison of childhood size and dietary differences at age 4 years between three European countries. Eur J Clin Nutr 68, 786–792 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.43

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