This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Consumption of fast food among children significantly decreased since 2003
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Energy intake from burger, pizza and chicken fast food restaurants significantly decreased among children from 2003 to 2010, according to study findings in JAMA Pediatrics.
Researchers from the University of Washington assessed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to determine trends in energy consumption by fast food restaurant type among children aged 4 to 19 years. The present study findings are based on data from 2003 to 2010.
Researchers observed that the percentage of children consuming fast food on a given day decreased from 38.8% in 2003 to 2004 to 32.6% in 2009 to 2010 (P = .008).
The proportion of children eating at burger fast food restaurants remained stable (P = .35) during the study period, while chicken restaurants experienced a significant decrease (P = .01).
The proportion of children who consumed food or beverages from pizza restaurants decreased from 12.2% in 2003 to 2004 to 6.4% in 2009 to 2010. This decrease may be due to a decline in the number of consumers, according to researchers.
Median energy consumption per eating occasion decreased among burger (P < .001), pizza (P < .001) and Mexican cuisine (P = .03) fast food restaurants and remained constant among sandwich and chicken restaurants during the study period.
“No fast food market segment experienced a significant increase in energy during the 8-year study,” study researchers Colin D. Rehm, PhD, MPH, and Adam Drewnowski, PhD, wrote. “Analyses of population-based National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dietary intakes data separated by fast food restaurant market segment should allow researchers to focus on children and other populations and can also be extended to monitor consumption for other dietary constituents of concern, including sodium, added sugars and solid fats.” – by Amanda Oldt
Disclosure: Rehm reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts