Consumption of takeaway meals and risk markers for coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity in children aged 9–10 years: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundFrequent consumption of takeaway meals is associated with increased risks of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity in adults, but little is known about such risks in childhood. This study aimed to assess whether consumption of takeaway meals is linked to chronic disease in childhood. MethodsA cross-sectional study of UK schoolchildren aged 9–10 years (Year 5) was carried out in a sample of 85 primary schools in London, Birmingham, and Leicester, with a high prevalence of ethnic minority pupils (black African-Caribbean or South Asian). All children in Year 5 classes were invited to participate. Children self-reported their frequency of consumption of takeaway meals, completed a 24 h dietary recall, had anthropometric measurements taken, and provided a fasting blood sample. Analyses were done with multilevel linear modelling allowing for clustering at school level. Ethics approval was obtained and written informed consent secured for all participants. FindingsAmong 3679 invited children, 2529 participated (69% response rate), of whom 1948 (77%) had complete data (1023 girls, 52%). They included similar numbers of children of white European (n=475), black African-Caribbean (496), South Asian (495), and other ethnic origins (482); 499 (26%) never or hardly ever consumed a takeaway meal, 894 (46%) did so less than once per week, and 555 (28%) once or more per week. In analyses adjusted for age, sex, month, school, ethnic group, and socioeconomic status, children who reported eating a takeaway meal once or more per week had higher mean total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, by 0·09 mmoL/L (95% CI 0·01–0·18) and by 0·10 mmoL/L (0·02–0·18), respectively, than did children who never or hardly ever ate a takeaway meal; their mean fat mass index was also higher (by 5·06%, 95% CI 0·53–9·79). Mean total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and fat mass index in the never or hardly ever group were 4·44 mmoL/L, 2·58 mmoL/L, and 2·01 kg/m5, respectively. Children who reported more frequent consumption of takeaway meals had substantially higher intakes of energy, fat (percent of energy), and saturated fat (percent of energy), and lower starch, protein, and micronutrient intakes. InterpretationFrequent consumption of takeaway meals in childhood is common and is associated with higher intakes of saturated fat and higher concentrations of LDL cholesterol. This research adds to growing evidence of the adverse health effects of takeaway meals. FundingThis research was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (South London) and by grants from Diabetes UK and the Wellcome Trust.