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Tracking of dietary intakes in early childhood: the Melbourne InFANT Program
S Lioret1, S A McNaughton, A C Spence
1Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research (C-PAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic, Australia. sandrine.lioretsuteau@deakin.edu.au
Insights
Early consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods by infants tracks over time, highlighting the need for interventions to promote healthy eating habits from a young age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Dietary Assessment
- Public Health Nutrition
Background:
- Understanding early childhood food and nutrient intake is crucial for long-term health.
- Dietary patterns established in infancy can persist into later childhood.
- The transition from infancy to toddlerhood involves significant dietary changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize food and nutrient consumption in 9- and 18-month-old children.
- To evaluate the stability or tracking of dietary intakes between these two age points.
- To identify early indicators of potentially unhealthy eating behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Study involved 177 infants from the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program control group.
- Dietary intake data were collected using three 24-hour recalls at 9 and 18 months.
- Tracking of food and nutrient intakes was analyzed using logistic regression and partial correlation coefficients.
Main Results:
- Consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods was observed as early as 9 months and showed high tracking.
- Intakes of healthier foods (fruits, vegetables, dairy, etc.) and water were stable.
- Moderate tracking was found for riboflavin, iodine, fiber, calcium, and iron; low tracking for zinc, magnesium, and potassium.
Conclusions:
- The tracking of unhealthy food consumption in early childhood has significant public health implications.
- Early eating behaviors are modifiable, influenced by parental provision and feeding practices.
- Promoting healthy dietary trajectories from infancy is essential for preventing long-term negative health outcomes.
Background/Objectives:
The objectives of the present study were to describe food and nutrient intakes in children aged 9 and 18 months, and to assess tracking of intakes between these two ages.
Subjects/Methods:
Participants were 177 children of first-time mothers from the control arm of the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program. Dietary intake was collected at 9 and 18 months using three 24 h diet recalls. Tracking was assessed for food and nutrient intakes using logistic regression analysis and estimating partial correlation coefficients, respectively.
Results:
Although overall nutrient intakes estimated in this study did not indicate a particular risk of nutrient deficiency, our findings suggest that consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods occurred as early as 9 months of age, with some of these foods tracking highly over the weaning period. Intakes of healthier foods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, eggs, fish and water were also relatively stable over this transition from infancy to toddlerhood, along with moderate tracking for riboflavin, iodine, fibre, calcium and iron. Tracking was low but close to ρ=0.3 for zinc, magnesium and potassium intakes.
Conclusions:
The tracking of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods has important implications for public health, given the development of early eating behaviours is likely to be modifiable. At this stage of life, dietary intakes are largely influenced by the foods parents provide, parental feeding practices and modelling. This study supports the importance of promoting healthy dietary trajectories from infancy.
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