The association of ready to eat cereal (RTEC) at breakfast with diet quality and adiposity in African‐American (AA) and Hispanic‐American (HA) children 1 to 18 years: Results from NHANES, 1999–2002

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the association of an RTEC breakfast with diet quality and weight of AA (n=2377) and HA (n=3236) 1 to 18 y in NHANES, 1999–2002. Three breakfast groups were: skippers, RTEC, and other breakfast (OB); age groups were 1–5, 6–12, 13–18 y. Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) score was the average percentage of the Estimated Average Requirement obtained from 24 hour recall intake of vitamins A, E, C, B1, B2, B6, B12; niacin; folate; phosphorus; magnesium; iron; and zinc. MAR and weight measures (mean±SE) of breakfast groups were compared using SUDAAN. Age was related to skipping and type of breakfast: for 1–5 v. 6–12 v. 13–18y, 7.4% v.16.9% v.36.8% of AA, and 4.9% v. 8.9% v. 28.3% of HA skipped; 45% v. 38% v. 19.4% of AA, and 40.5% v. 33.9% v. 22.1% of HA ate RTEC. MAR for AA was highest in RTEC (97.3 [1–5], 94.7 [6–12], 92.1 [13–18y]) (p<0.05). For HA 1–5y, MAR was higher for RTEC (97.2±0.2) than OB (95.7±0.4), but not skippers (92.8±2.1); in HA 6–12y, MAR of RTEC (95.4±0.6) was higher than skippers (84.9±1.3); in HA 13–18y MAR of RTEC (91.1±0.5) was highest (p<0.05). In AA and HA 2–18y there were no differences in z‐score of BMI‐for age; in AA 2–18y only waist circumference (cm) was lowest in RTEC (66.5±0.3) v skippers (68.7±0.7) or OB (68.2±0.4). There were ethnic differences in breakfast consumption patterns, and adiposity of 2–18y AA and HA; diet quality improved with RTEC in both groups. Support: USDA & Kellogg's.