The need for modifying energy intake in preschool children from Piła, Poland

Monitoring energy intake in preschool children is the basis for planning intervention programmes. The published articles in which energy intake in Polish preschool children was reported are still very few.

The objective was to assess energy intake in preschool children from Piła, including energy intake and intake of energy from macronutrients.

Energy intake was assessed from weighed food records kept over seven consecutive days by preschool staff and parents of 122 children, 61 girls and 61 boys, aged 4 to 6 years. Energy intake was calculated using Dieta 4.0 and Microsoft Excel computer programmes. Weight and height were measured and BMI was calculated. Statistical analysis was carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistics 21 computer programme.

Energy intake was the lowest in underweight children, 1286 kcal, and the highest in obese children, 1636 kcal. Energy intake (kcal, kJ, kcal/kg body weight, kJ/kg body weight) and intake of energy from sucrose (%) were statistically significantly higher in boys compared to girls, 1546 vs 1428 kcal, 6477 vs 5985 kJ, 77 vs 71 kcal/kg body weight, 322 vs 298 kJ/kg body weight, and 21.2 vs 19.7%, respectively. Intake of energy from starch was statistically significantly higher in girls compared to boys, 24.8 vs 23.4%. It is noteworthy that energy intakes from fat and saturated fatty acids were above the recommendations in 71.3% and 98.4% of the studied preschool children, respectively. Energy intakes from polyunsaturated fatty acids and available carbohydrates were below the recommendations in 98.4% and 57.4% of the studied preschool children, respectively.

Energy intakes from macronutrients in the studied preschool children need urgent modification to prevent the risk of future diet-related diseases. Preschoolers' parents and preschool staff should be educated about nutrition recommendations for children, especially about dietary risks of diseases and impaired neurodevelopment.