Dietary patterns in toddlers with excess weight. The 2016 pitnuts study.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Public Health
• Dietary Pattern Analysis

Background:

• Appropriate dietary patterns are crucial for children's development and disease prevention, including adult obesity.
• Understanding the dietary habits of overweight toddlers is essential for developing targeted nutritional interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the dietary patterns of overweight children aged 1-3 years.
• To compare these patterns against established safe nutrition models, focusing on meal organization, food selection, and nutritional value.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide sample of 1059 children aged 5-36 months was studied in 2016.
• Dietary patterns of 173 overweight children (BMI-z-score >1 SD) aged 13-36 months were analyzed using 3-day dietary records.
• Cluster analysis (k-means) identified three distinct dietary patterns based on the intake of 11 food groups.

Main Results:

• Three dietary patterns were identified: 'baby food diet' (infant formula/foods), 'milk and cereals diet' (cow's milk, dairy, cereals, bread), and 'sandwich and sugar diet' (bread, cold meats, fats, sweets, juices, fruits).
• All overweight children consumed significantly lower amounts of vegetables and fruits than recommended.
• Diets showed excessive intake of energy, protein, sodium, B vitamins, and saccharose, with insufficient calcium, fiber, vitamin D, E, LCPUFA, iodine, and potassium.

Conclusions:

• Identified dietary patterns in overweight toddlers significantly differ from safe nutrition models in terms of food choices and nutrient profiles.
• Younger toddlers on the 'baby food diet' showed a more balanced intake due to enriched foods, while older toddlers exhibited more diverse but less healthy choices.