High Protein Intake Among Preschoolers in Childcare in a Region at Elevated Risk for Obesity.

Abstract

To compare diet quality of convenience samples of children 2-3 and 4-5years attending 11 of 75 childcare centers in Hays County, Texas to a nationally representative sample, as part of a needs assessment to inform a childcare center-based intervention. Parents completed 24-h recalls of their child's diet in 2014. Usual dietary intake of the regional and age-matched sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2014) was estimated using the National Cancer Institute method. Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index. Quantile regression and t-tests compared nutrient intake and Healthy Eating Index scores between the two samples. Children ages 2-3 and 4-5years in the regional sample (n = 124) consumed a higher percent of calories from protein (19%) than children in the national sample (n = 1613; 14%, P < .0.0001). In the regional sample, 21% of children 2-3years consumed protein in excess of the AMDR compared to fewer than 1% of children in the national sample. Assessing regional diet while planning health outreach is important. Among children in childcare in this community, high protein intake may contribute to weight disparity. Workshops with childcare center staff to address center policies, environments, and parent outreach could address replacing some high-protein foods with other nutrient-rich foods.