Fat intake in childhood in Germany

Background. The desirable fat intake in: childhood is controversial. Potent ial modifications need to consider current dietary intakes in childhood pop ulations. We report data on dietary fat intakes in infants and children in Germany. Infants. A prospective study monitored 148 healthy infants from birth to 1 year of life. Calculated energy and nutrient intakes were within recommende d ranges,and weight gain was normal. Therefore,we see no reason for active modification of total fat inta takes in infants. School children. In a cross-sectional study, we monitored the food intake o f 158 primary school children aged 6 to 11 years by using 7 day check-list- protocols. We found a very high total fat consumption of 41% of energy inta kes,of which about 50% were contributed by saturated fats. Since German chi ldren of this age group have high rates of obesity and high serum cholester ol concentrations,we consider a stepwise reduction of total fat and saturat ed fat intake in primary school children highly desirable.