Whole grain consumption and associations with body weight measures in the United States: results from NHANES 2009‐10 and the new USDA Food Patterns Equivalents Database (810.23)

Abstract

National estimates of whole grain (WG) intake in the United States, dietary sources of WG, and the relationship between WG and body measures for children and adults were examined. Dietary data from the NHANES 2009‐10 were linked to the new USDA Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED). Mean daily whole grain (WG) intake, percent below recommendations, and major food sources were identified for children 6‐18 years (n=2263) and adults 19+ years (n=5820). These populations were classified into groups based on their average WG intake: 0 oz eq/d, > 0 & <1 oz eq/d, & >1 oz eq/d. Within these classifications, BMI, waist circumference (WC), and percent overweight/obese (OW/OB) were identified. Regression and logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations between these dependent variables and WG. On average, children and adults consumed 0.61 and 0.84 serving of WG/d, respectively. Less than 1% and 4.5% percent of children and adults, respectively, met WG recommendations. Yeast breads and RTE cereals were the leading source of WG for both children and adults. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant, inverse relationship between BMI and WC with respect to WG intake after adjustment for covariates (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant inverse relationship between %OW/OB and WG consumption for adults (p=0.019). Consumption of whole‐grain foods by U.S. children and adults remains well below the recommended level. These data suggest that increased WG consumption is associated with a healthier body weight in children and adults.