CHICAGO -- The July 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association contains articles and research studies you may find of interest. Below is a summary of some of this month’s articles.
Children Prefer Large Portions … of Some Foods
Given the choice, Canadian fifth-graders prefer larger portions of snacks and fast foods and smaller portions of vegetables than the recommended amounts, according to researchers at Dalhousie University in Canada.
The researchers showed nearly 5,000 children a variety of portion sizes of french fries, meat, cooked vegetables and potato chips and asked them to indicate their “usual portion sizes.” More than 63 percent of the children chose french fry portions that were larger than American and Canadian dietary recommendations, with boys more than twice as likely as girls to select bigger portions. “Significantly larger” portions for meat and chips were selected by about 78 percent the children; for vegetables, 52 percent chose portion sizes smaller than or equal to dietary guidelines.
The study found kids who ate at fast-food restaurants more than once per week were more likely to consider large portions of fries and small portions of vegetables to be “usual,” as did children from socioeconomically disadvantaged families and those who frequently ate while watching television.
“This study demonstrates that a great deal can be gained by expanding nutrition education with respect to moderation and choosing appropriate portion sizes,” the researchers write.
African-American Girls Consume Fewer Micronutrients than Caucasian Girls
African-American adolescent and teenage girls consume less vitamin A and D, calcium and magnesium compared to Caucasian girls, according to researchers at St. Joseph College, Wesleyan University and other institutions. Regardless of race, the researchers also found a “substantial” percentage of girls had intakes of vitamin E, magnesium and folate that fall below recommended guidelines.
The researchers studied data from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s National Growth and Healthy Study of nearly 1,200 white girls and more than 1,200 African-American girls to determine their usual daily intakes of vitamins A, E, C, D, B6, B12, magnesium, folate, calcium and zinc.
The study reported that Caucasian girls tend to consume greater amounts of micronutrients compared to African-American girls, with the exception of vitamins E and C and zinc. Intakes of vitamins A, D and C; calcium; and magnesium tend to decrease with age for all girls, but the rate of decreased intake of vitamin D, calcium and magnesium is greater among African-American girls.
The researchers speculate that, as girls age, “the nutrient density of their diet (decreases), and this tendency (is) more pronounced among African-American girls. Food and nutrition professionals should focus their counseling efforts on improving diets of young girls, particularly those who are African-American,”
Additional research articles in the July Journal of the American Dietetic Association include:
- Beverage Patterns, Diet Quality and Body Mass Index of U.S. Preschool and School-Aged Children
- Examination of Weight Status and Dietary Behaviors of Middle School Students in Kentucky
- Predictors of Weight Loss in Low-Income Mothers of Young Children
- Predictors of Dietary Change and Maintenance in The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Dietary Modification (DM) Trial
- Child-Feeding Strategies are Associated with Maternal Concern about Children Becoming Overweight, but Not Children’s Weight Status
For more information or to receive a copy of a Journal article, e-mail media@eatright.org.
The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition and dietetics.
With more than 67,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. To locate a registered dietitian in your area, visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org.
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Journal of the American Dietetic Association