Trends and Urban-Rural Disparities of Energy Intake and Macronutrient Composition among Chinese Children: Findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1991 to 2015)

Jian Zhao,Lijun Zuo,Huijun Wang,Chang Su,Jian Sun

doi:10.3390/nu13061933

Abstract

The nutrition status of children is gaining more attention with a rapid nutrition transition. This study aimed to investigate trends and urban-rural differences in dietary energy and macronutrient composition among Chinese children. A total of 7565 participants aged 6 to 17 years were obtained from three rounds (1991, 2004 and 2015) of the Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). The individual diet was evaluated via three consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls and compared with the Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). From 1991 to 2015, there was a significant increase in children’s fat intake, the proportion of energy intake from fat, and the proportion of children with more than 30% of energy from fat and less than 50% of energy from carbohydrates (p < 0.001). Compared with the DRI, the proportion with higher fat and lower carbohydrate intakes were, respectively, 64.7% and 46.8% in 2015. The urban-rural disparities in fat and carbohydrate intake gradually narrowed, while the gap in protein intake increased notably over time (p < 0.001). Chinese children experienced a rapid transformation to a low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet. Urban-rural disparities persistently existed; further nutritional interventions and education were of great significance, so as to ensure a more balanced diet for Chinese children.

Highlights

From 1991 to 2015, the proportion of children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 51.2% to 57.4%, the proportion of girls increased from 49.3% to 52.3%, and the proportion of urban participants increased from 26.3% to 34.5%
Using more than two decades of data from the Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), the present study sought to determine the nutritional status of Chinese children, which is concentrated in urban–rural differences, through a longitudinal study related to nutritional status
The current results are consistent with a previous study of children in the United States of America, which showed an estimated initial decline of 159 to 240 kcal/d at the median observed across all age groups [24], while another survey showed that the daily mean dietary energy intake exceeded the dietary recommendations across all gender-age groups of African American children in Baltimore city [25]

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Nutritional status during childhood is crucial for health, wellness and cognitive development, as well as the future of the whole population. Unhealthy childhood nutrition increases the risk of future non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and cancers, and result in high morbidity and mortality worldwide [1]. Nutrient intake is an important implication for the nutritional status of children

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