Global, Regional, and National Animal and Plant Source Food Intake Among Adolescents Ages 11–19 Years in 2015: An analysis from the Global Dietary Database

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Global nutrition research and dietary recommendations have focused on infants/young children or adults with limited attention on the crucial ages of adolescents. Diet quality during adolescence is critical to support physical and mental development and promote healthy dietary behaviors in adulthood. Our objective was to estimate consumption of plant source foods (PSF) and animal source foods (ASF) among adolescents age 11–19 years globally. Methods The Global Dietary Database 2015 (GDD) includes national and subnational individual-level dietary intake survey data representing 1144 survey-years from 185 countries (97% of the world's population). A Bayesian hierarchical model combines stratum-specific dietary intakes from these surveys with survey-specific characteristics and time-varying country-level covariates (GDP, United Nations FAO Food Balance Sheets) to estimate mean dietary intake and uncertainty, jointly stratified by country, sex, age (15 groups), urban/rural residence, and education level for the years 1990–2015 adjusted to 2000 kcal/day. Serving sizes were based on using NHANES and USDA conversions. PSF includes fruits, vegetables, beans & legumes, nuts & seeds, and grains and ASF includes processed & unprocessed meats, seafood, eggs, cheese, yogurt, and milk (poultry not yet available). Results In 2015, global mean intake of PSF among adolescents was 4.7 servings/d and ASF was 1.8 servings/d. Worldwide, most PSF intake came from non-starchy vegetables (28.9%) followed by refined grains (27.4%); and least from other starchy vegetables (2.1%). Unprocessed red meats represented the largest proportion of ASF intake globally (18.3%) followed by cheese (18.0%); with least from yogurt (2.7%). Adolescents in Asia consumed the most PSF (5.8 servings/d) with 41.4% from refined grains. Adolescents in high income countries consumed the most ASF (2.9 servings/d) with most from milk (29.1%) and cheese (20.5%). Additional subgroups and time trend findings will be presented. Conclusions These novel findings provide the most comprehensive estimates of PSF and ASF intake among adolescents globally. The results can help inform adolescent-specific dietary priorities and policy strategies to improve human and planetary health. Funding Sources Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.