American children are eating more often outside their homes, as well as in larger quantities; they also continue getting fatter every year. Parents, health care professionals and nutritionists are turning their attention towards the consumption of foods outside the home, because this appears to coincide with the growing obesity epidemic in the USA.
A study, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, reveals that where children eat and where their food comes from has a considerable impact on their daily energy intake. Daily calorie intake by children is being fuelled by their increased consumption of foods prepared outside the home, fast foods they consume at home, as well as store-prepared foods they eat away from home, the authors said.
The researchers explained that trends in energy consumption by eating location have not been studied before, making this one unique.
Between 1994 and 2006, the proportion of calories consumed per day from store-bought foods eaten away from home and fast foods eaten at home grew considerably. The rise in store-bought foods consumed away from home probably represents an increase in store-prepared foods, a source of calories which have not yet been identified or quantified.
The investigators found that children now consume more calories from fast foods away from home than from school meals. Fast foods are now children’s greatest source of calories consumed when not at home.
Barry M. Popkin, PhD, Professor of Nutrition, UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, said:
“Overall, this study highlights the continuing rapid shifts in the sources of food for children in the US – both where it’s eaten and where it’s prepared. These results underscore the need to deepen our understanding of food preparation and consumption patterns, and further pinpoint where research and programmatic activity should focus. The differences in energy intake by eating location revealed in this analysis demonstrate that eating location is an important factor in the diet of American children.
Further studies of children’s diet focusing on energy intake and nutritional quality by eating location are warranted, particularly for store-purchased food overall, carry-out or drive-thru fast food, and hot-and-ready vs. home-prepared foods . . . . By determining the importance of both where children eat and where their food is prepared, this study helps elucidate where children are obtaining their calories.
Because of the increased energy intake and lower nutritional quality associated with away-from-home prepared foods, such insight can be used to focus future efforts to reduce calorie intake and improve dietary quality for American children.”
Between 1977 and 2006, US children increased their daily calorie consumption by 179 calories. This study found that it is linked to a considerable rise in calories consumed away from home – estimated to be an increase of about 255 calories per day.
In 1977, it was estimated that US kids consumed 23.4% of their daily calories away from home, compared to 33.9% in 2006.
The study gathered data on 29,217 children aged 2 to 18 years from four nationally representative surveys.
“Trends in energy intake among US children by eating location and food source, 1977-2006”
Jennifer M. Poti and Barry M. Popkin, PhD.
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Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Volume 111, Issue 8 (August 2011)
Written by Christian Nordqvist