Trends of Dietary Habits in Adolescents

Abstract

Lifestyle plays an important role in the development of obesity during childhood and adolescence. We provide up-to-date information about the relationship between obesity and food intake and dietary patterns in adolescents. Scientific evidence is increasing about the dietary factors associated with this relationship, specifically a low meal frequency, skipping breakfast, and a high consumption of sugar sweetened beverages. Maybe some of the reviewed dietary factors could cluster in the same population of adolescents, increasing the individual risk. There is little information about dietary patterns and current time trends in adolescents; however, the available data seem to show that the tendency in the adolescent population worldwide is to increase those dietary factors related with obesity development. Public health efforts should be emphasized in order to decrease the current tendency. Regular family meals could serve as role models for healthy eating behaviors. Educational intervention programs for parents, aiming to modify the healthfulness of the diet, seems to be one of the most adequate tools to deal with the worldwide obesity epidemic.

Does tracking of dietary behaviours differ by parental education in children during the transition into adolescence?

“…Investigating eating behaviours in children longitudinally during the transition into adolescence is recommended in order to provide important information on when, how and why dietary changes occur (2,6,12,13) . This will in turn enable the development of strategies for interventions (14,15) and then further influence future health.…”

Changes in meal pattern among Norwegian children from 2001 to 2008

“…A recently published study among Norwegian children showed increased odds of being overweight when fewer than four meals were eaten the previous day (11) . Second, studies from the 1980s to today have described a distinct change in meal pattern in children and adolescents, more than observed in the adult population (2,3,12) . These changes vary widely from one region to the other (12) .…”

“…In Norway it has been reported that 15 % of healthy children and adolescents skip breakfast and 30 % skip lunch twice weekly or more (13) . In the USA the prominent trend is an increase in snacking events between meals (12) . A third focus on meal pattern has concerned the importance of how and with whom meals are eaten.…”

Variations in eating habits between Ecuadorian parents and children related to excess weight

“…Independently of these characteristics, both periods are crucial in regard to growth and development and both children and adolescents can acquire and/or modify those eating habits which are associated with excess weight. 8 Various authors coincide in the definition of eating habits as a set of customs and repetitive manifestations which condition the way individuals consume food, and are based directly or indirectly on sociocultural practices. 9,10 Feeding behavior is a complex phenomenon, based on political, economic, social and cultural conditioning factors.…”