THE INTAKE OF NUTRIENTS BY NORTHUMBRIAN ADOLESCENTS FROM ONE-PARENT FAMILIES AND FROM UNEMPLOYED FAMILIES

In order to tailor nutrition health education to 'at risk' groups, are as of nutritional insufficiency in the diets of such groups need to be identified. Low income and poor nutritional knowledge may predispose children from one-parent families and/or unemployed families to a poor diet. The present study compared intakes of nutrients between Northum brian adolescents from one-parent and two-parent families and between Northumbrian adolescents from unemployed and employed families. In 199 0, 379 children aged 11-12 years completed two 3-day dietary records, and were interviewed by a dietitian to verify the information given. I nformation on the employment status and number of parents of these chi ldren was obtained by questionnaire. Compared to girls from employed f amilies, girls from unemployed families had significantly higher intak es of energy, fat and carbohydrate. Boys from unemployed families had significantly lower intakes of iron and vitamin C than boys from emplo yed families. Daily intake of energy and fat were significantly greate r in girls from single-parent families compared to girls from two-pare nt families. No differences in intake of nutrients were observed betwe en boys from one- and two-parent families. No additive effect of being from both an unemployed and single-parent family was observed.