Temporal trends in energy and macronutrient distribution in meals eaten by children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

Authors

  • Suzana Almoosawi Suzana Almoosawi, PhD Research Associate Human Nutrition Research Centre and Institute of Health & Society Room M1.151, William Leech Building, Medical School, Framlington Place Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH UK Direct Phone +44 (0) 191 222 3828 http://www.ncl.ac.uk/hnrc/ http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ihs/
  • Victoria Cribb Research assistant Bristol University Oakfield House Oakfield Grove Clifton Bristol BS8 2BN UK
  • Pauline Emmett Senior Research Fellow Bristol University Oakfield House Oakfield Grove Clifton Bristol BS8 2BN UK
  • Alison Lennox Professor of Public Health Nutrition Department of Nutritional Sciences School of Biosciences and Medicine Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Surrey Guildford GU2 7XH

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14301/llcs.v7i1.292

Keywords:

circadian rhythm, eating profile, ALSPAC, prospective study

Abstract

Cross-sectional studies have reported associations between frequency of eating, snacking, breakfast skipping, night-eating and obesity.  However, there have been few investigations of longitudinal trends in time-of-day of energy and macronutrient intake.  We investigated trends in time-of-day of energy and macronutrient intake in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Diet was assessed using 3d estimated diaries at ages 10 and 13 years. Diaries were divided into seven time slots: breakfast, mid-morning, lunch, mid-afternoon, dinner, late evening and extras. Trends in energy and macronutrient intake at different eating occasions between ages 10 and 13 years were assessed using linear mixed models after adjustment for age, maternal employment and child’s BMI.  Lunch and dinner were found to contribute the greatest proportion of energy and macronutrient intake in both girls and boys at both ages.  However, there was a shift in time-of-day of energy and macronutrient intake for both sexes, with greater proportions of intake between meals (mid-morning, late evening, extras) and lower proportion of intake at main meals (breakfast, dinner) at age 13 years compared to 10 years.  Factors contributing to changes in energy and nutrient distribution warrant investigation and the implications of such changes in time-of-day of energy and nutrient intake on long-term health remains to be examined.

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Published

2016-01-08

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2016): Longitudinal and Life Course Studies

Section

Papers

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