Changes in consumption of sugars by English adolescents over 20 years.

OBJECTIVE: Dietary surveys of 11- to 12-year-old Northumbrian children in 1980 and 1990 revealed that consumption of non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) was 16-17% of energy intake. This study reports dietary sugars consumption in 2000 and compares it with data collected in 1980 and 1990, using identical methods. DESIGN: A repeat cross-sectional dietary survey of children aged 1-12 years attending the same schools as in the 1980 and 1990 surveys. SETTING: Seven middle schools in south Northumberland. SUBJECTS: All children aged 11-12 years old attending the seven schools. METHOD: Food consumption was recorded using two 3-day diet diaries. Food composition tables were used to calculate energy and nutrient intakes. NMES, and milk and intrinsic sugars were calculated using previously described methods. RESULTS: The numbers of children completing the surveys in 1980, 1990 and 2000 were 405, 379 and 424, respectively; approximately 60-70% of eligible children. Total sugars provided 22% of energy consistently over the three surveys. NMES consumption in 2000 provided 16% of energy compared with 16% in 1980 and 17% in 1990. Sources of NMES changed over the three surveys. NMES from soft drinks doubled from 15 to 31 g day(-1), and from breakfast cereals increased from 2 to 7 g day(-1) over the 20 years. Confectionery and soft drinks provided 61% of NMES. Over 20 years, the proportion of energy from fat decreased by 5% and from starch increased by 4%, creating a welcome tilt in the fat-starch see-saw, without an adverse effect on sugars intake. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of NMES in 2000 was substantially higher than recommended, and there has been little change over 20 years. Continued and coordinated efforts are required at a national, community and individual level to reduce the intake of NMES.

Changes over 20 years in macronutrient intake and body mass index in 11- to 12-year-old adolescents living in Northumberland.

Monitoring adolescent diets over time enables the assessment of the effectiveness of public health messages which are particularly important in vulnerable groups such as adolescents. In 2000, 424 children aged 11-12 years old completed two 3 d estimated dietary records. On the fourth day one nutritionist interviewed each child to clarify the information in the diary and foods were quantified with the aid of food models. Nutrient intake was calculated using computerised food tables. These children attended the same seven schools in the same Northumberland area as the 11- to 12-year-old children who recorded their diet using the same method in 1980 (n 405) and 1990 (n 379), respectively. Height and weight, and parental occupation were recorded in all three surveys for each child. Height and weight were used to calculate BMI, weight was used to estimate BMR and parental occupation was used to determine social class. Comparing the macronutrient intakes in 2000 with 1980 and 1990, energy intakes (EI) fell in boys (to 8.45 MJ) and girls (to 7.60 MJ). This fall may, at least in part, be due to an increase in low energy reporting. For 1980, 1990 and 2000 the percentage of boys with EI:BMR below 1.1 was 6, 15 and 23 %, respectively; for girls, 3, 14 and 18 %, respectively. Percentage energy from fat was unchanged between 1980 and 1990 but fell to 35 % (about 76 g/d) in 2000, alongside a 3 % increase in percentage energy from starch (30 %). Percentage energy from non-milk extrinsic sugars remained above recommendations (16 %; about 82 g/d). The number of overweight and obese children increased from 11 % to 30 % between 1980 and 2000. Positive changes have occurred in the Northumbrian adolescent diet but social inequalities, reported in previous surveys, remain.

Changes in water intake of Northumbrian adolescents 1980 to 2000.

OBJECTIVES: To determine: total water intake in young English adolescents; the relative importance of sources of water intake; and changes in water intake and sources of water between 1980 and 2000. DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study of the diets of 11-12-year-old children attending seven schools in south Northumberland, UK. The information obtained was compared with results from a similar survey carried out 20 years previously. METHODS: All children attending these schools were invited to participate. They completed a three-day diet diary with an interview on the fourth day, on two occasions during the school year. Standard UK food composition tables were used and water intake from various sources calculated. Anthropometric and social class information was obtained. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty-four children completed all aspects of the study (64% of those eligible). The mean total water intake was 1,130 g d(-1), approximately the same as that recorded 20 years before. Water intake in relation to energy intake: water intake was 139 g MJ(-1) in boys and 143 g MJ(-1) in girls. Sixty-five per cent of water came from drinks and 35% from foods; very similar to proportions 20 years before. The sources of water in drinks had changed considerably, with a marked increase in consumption of soft drinks (especially carbonated drinks) and a decrease in consumption of hot drinks and milk. There were a few differences between sexes but little difference between social groups. CONCLUSIONS: Total water intake was similar to that recorded 20 years previously and lower than intakes reported in other countries. Changes in the sources of water meant that less water consumed was likely to come from the tap in the house and more from drinks made elsewhere, than 20 years previously. These changes have implications for estimating fluoride intake in fluoridated areas.