Junk food seen at pediatric clinic visits: is it a problem?

To document the prevalence of junk foods seen at clinic visits.

A cross-sectional 23-item survey of observed food items were completed by medical staff using a convenience sample of families from June 2, 2011 to March 2, 2012.

The study was conducted in pediatric clinics affiliated with the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

A convenience sample consisting of 738 families with children from 4 months to 16 years old presenting for visits were included in the study. Children exclusively breast and formula fed was excluded.

Junk food was observed 20.9% at the clinic visits.

Junk food was often seen at clinic visits. There was a trend toward higher body mass index in patients whose families had junk food at the visit.