Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the intake and sources of non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) and fat among children in Scotland in relation to socio-economic status, and to estimate the changes in diet required to achieve recommended levels of intake. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey with diet assessed by semi-quantitative FFQ. SETTING: Eighty postcode sectors across Scotland. SUBJECTS: Children (n 1398) aged 3-17 years recruited from the Child Benefit register (76 % of those contacted). RESULTS: The mean intake of NMES of 17.4 (95 % CI 17.0, 17.8) % food energy was considerably higher than the UK recommended population average of 11 % food energy. The mean intake of total fat of 32.9 (95 % CI 32.7, 33.2) % food energy met the recommended population average of no more than 35 % food energy, while the mean intake of SFA of 13.8 (95 % CI 13.7, 14.0) % food energy was above the recommended population average of no more than 11 % food energy. Despite clear socio-economic gradients in the mean daily consumption of many 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' food groups, socio-economic differences in NMES as a percentage of food energy were limited and there was no significant variation in the intake of total fat or SFA as a percentage of food energy with socio-economic status. Modelling of the data showed that removing sugar-sweetened soft drinks and increasing fruit and vegetable intake by 50 % would not restore the intake of NMES and SFA to recommended levels. CONCLUSIONS: Major changes in the intake of many food groups will be required to bring the NMES and saturated fat intake in line with current dietary recommendations.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1286–1294 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Public Health Nutrition |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 8 |
Early online date | 8 Dec 2009 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2010 |
Keywords
- sugar
- fat
- intake
- children
- Scotland