CHANGE IN NUTRIENT INTAKES, NUMBER OF SERVINGS, AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF TOTAL FAT FROM FOOD GROUPS IN 4-YEAR-OLD TO 10-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN ENROLLED IN A NUTRITION EDUCATION STUDY

Objective To determine change in nutrient intakes, number of servings, and contributions of total fat from food groups in children who lower ed their dietary fat intake. Design A research and demonstration study designed to lower plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. T here were four study groups: two intervention and tivo control groups. All children had hypercholesterolemia except for those in one control group. Three 24-hour dietary recalls were collected on randomly assig ned days over a 2-week period at baseline and 3 months after the inter vention. Subjects Three hundred three 4- to 10-year old children from suburbs north of Philadelphia, Pa. Interventions One intervention invo lved a home-based, parent-child autotutorial program (PCAT group) with audiotaped stories and print materials for the children and their fam ilies; the other intervention involved one face-to-face, face counseli ng session with a registered dietitian (counseling group). Outcome mea sures Change in mean nutrient intakes compared with the Recommended Di etary Allowance (RDA); change in number of servings and mean grams of total fat contributed from 10 different food groups. Statistical analy ses performed Analyses of variance and chi(2) analyses. Results Childr en in every study group had mean intakes of all nutrients (except vita min D) greater than 67% of the RDA 3 months after the baseline measure ment. Several food groups (ie, meats, dairy products, fats/oils, and d esserts) provided less total fat to the diets of children who reduced their dietary lipid intake after 3 months (ie, PCAT and counseling gro ups). These children also reduced the mean number of servings selected from these food groups. Within these same food groups, some children consumed fewer servings of higher fat foods and more servings of lower fat foods. Applications/conclusions Children who lowered their dietar y fat intake after intervention reported both quantitative and qualita tive changes in food choices from several food groups. These choices d id not significantly reduce their nutrient intakes.