Abstract
To identify eating occasion-level and individual-level factors associated with the consumption of larger portions in young children and estimate their relative importance. Cross-sectional. Data from parent-reported 4-d food diaries in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008-2017) were analysed. Multilevel models explored variation in eating occasion size (kJ) within (n 48419 occasions) and between children (n 1962) for all eating occasions. Eating contexts: location, eating companion, watching TV, and sitting at a table and individual characteristics: age, gender, ethnicity and parental socio-economic status were explored as potential correlates of eating occasion size. Children aged 1·5-5 years. Median eating occasion size was 657 kJ (IQR 356, 1117). Eating occasion size variation was primarily attributed (90 %) to differences between eating occasions. Most (73 %) eating occasions were consumed at home. In adjusted models, eating occasions in eateries were 377 kJ larger than at home. Eating occasions sitting at a table, v. not, were 197 kJ larger. Eating in childcare, with additional family members and friends, and whilst watching TV were other eating contexts associated with slightly larger eating occasion sizes. Eating contexts that vary from one eating occasion to another are more important than demographic characteristics that vary between children in explaining variation in consumed portion sizes in young children. Strategies to promote consumption of age-appropriate portion sizes in young children should be developed, especially in the home environment, in eating contexts such as sitting at the table, eating with others and watching TV.
Highlights
Eighty per cent of children ate with their parents/carers and 77 % with family and friends
2 % explained by individual characteristics. These findings suggest factors that differ from one occasion to another can better help us to understand why portion sizes are larger in this sample of young children than factors that differ from one child to another
Our results suggest we should focus on building the evidence base for factors associated with portion size that vary from one eating occasion to another
Summary
Study sample Secondary data analysis was conducted on dietary data from 1962 young children aged 1·5–5 years in the UK NDNS Years 1 to 9 (2008/2009–2017) rolling programme. NDNS data were downloaded from the UK Data Archive[22]. Dietary data Dietary data were collected via 4-d estimated food diaries, completed by parents of the participating children. Parents estimated portion sizes using household measures (e.g. tablespoons), grams from packaging and example pictures provided[23]. Diaries were coded by a trained NDNS research team. Where grams were not reported, portion sizes were determined by coders using household measures in the Diet In Nutrients Out system[24] or available packaging. Portion sizes were converted into energy by the NDNS research team using the food composition data from the Department of Health NDNS nutrient databank
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