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Association between energy density and diet cost in children
Ana Patrícia Faria1, Gabriela Albuquerque1, Pedro Moreira1,2,3
1Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Porto Biomedical Journal
|April 8, 2020
Summary
Lower energy-density diets cost more for children. This study found that diets with fewer calories per gram were more expensive, regardless of how beverages were included in calculations.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
- Dietary Economics
Background:
- Limited data exists on calculating dietary energy density using varied methods.
- Understanding diet cost and energy density is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine dietary energy density in children aged 6-12 years.
- To analyze the relationship between dietary energy density and cost in children.
Main Methods:
- Dietary intake assessed via 24-hour recall in 464 Portuguese children (6-12 years).
- Dietary energy density calculated using three methods: all beverages (ED1), caloric beverages (ED2), and food only (ED3).
- Energy-adjusted diet cost (€/1000 kcal) determined from supermarket food prices; logistic regression used for analysis.
Main Results:
- Dietary energy density varied significantly based on calculation method (ED3 highest, ED1 lowest).
- Lower energy-density diets were associated with higher costs in children.
- Boys showed a stronger inverse association between energy density and diet cost compared to girls.
Conclusions:
- Higher dietary energy density correlates with lower dietary costs in children.
- Findings highlight the economic implications of diet composition for children's health.
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