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Pizza consumption contributed 20% of daily caloric intake among children
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On days when it is consumed, pizza represented more than 20% of the daily intake of calories among children and adolescents, and increased the overall calorie intake for that day, according to a recent study.
“Although pizza continues to be a significant source of calories, an important question is whether and to what extent it contributes to excess energy intake and poor diet quality,” Lisa M. Powell, PhD, from the Institute for Health, Research and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and colleagues wrote. “Previous studies have shown that on the days that sugar-sweetened beverages or fast food are consumed by children, overall caloric intake is increased.”
To determine if similar outcomes occur when pizza is consumed, the researchers assessed individual-level fixed effects regression models by using recall data to examine the relationship between any pizza consumption and total energy intake and intakes of sugar, saturated fat and sodium.
Powell and colleagues utilized 24-hour dietary recall data for children aged 2 to 11 years (n=7,443) and adolescents aged 12 to 19 years (n=6,447) from the 2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2007-2008, and 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination surveys.
The researchers focused on key variables including: the frequency of pizza consumption, mean total energy intake from pizza consumption and mean total energy intake from pizza consumption in a 24-hour recall period. The researchers also evaluated pizza consumption patterns by race/ethnicity, income, meal occasion and source — including fast-food restaurant, full-service restaurant, school cafeteria, store or other.
While the caloric intake from pizza among adolescents who consumed pizza declined (P≤.05) between 2003 and 2010, overall pizza intake remained unchanged due to marginally higher pizza consumption prevalence. However, children demonstrated a 25% decline in the overall energy intake from pizza.
Among children and adolescents, most pizza continued to be consumed at lunch or dinner, though caloric intake from pizza declined significantly at dinner time (P≤.05). While pizza consumption was significantly associated with higher net daily total energy intake and higher intakes of saturated fat and sodium, it was not associated with sugar intake, and therefore effects were not found to differ by sociodemographics.
“These observations emphasize that pizza, like sugary drinks, may be a significant contributor to excess caloric intake and obesity, and should become a target for counseling for the prevention and treatment of obesity in pediatric practice,” Powell and colleagues wrote. “Furthermore, because children and adolescents obtain pizza from varied sources, continued efforts are needed on multiple fronts to improve the nutritional content and related marketing of pizza served in schools and restaurants and supplied through stores.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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