Dietary patterns among a national sample of British children aged 1½ – 4½; years

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveUsing a nationally representative sample, to identify groups among British children aged 1½; – 4½; years who report similar patterns of diet.DesignNationally representative dietary survey, using 4 d weighed dietary records, of girls and boys aged 1½; – 4½; years living in private households in Great Britain in 1992–1993. Cluster analysis was used to aggregate individuals into diet groups.SettingGreat Britain.ParticipantsEight hundred and forty-eight boys and 827 girls.ResultsThree clusters were identified for girls and three for boys. Among boys the most prevalent cluster was ‘Healthy Diet’ (52·3 %), the second was ‘Convenience Diet’ (38·3 %) and the third was ‘Traditional Diet’ (9·3 %). Among girls, the most prevalent dietary cluster was ‘Healthy Diet’ (58·7 %), followed by a ‘Convenience Diet’ (36·6 %) and ‘Traditional Diet’ (4·3 %). There were important differences in nutrient profile, sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics between clusters.ConclusionsCluster analysis identified three groups among both girls and boys which differed not only in terms of reported dietary intake, but also with respect to nutrient intake, social and behavioural characteristics. The groups identified could provide a useful basis for the development, monitoring and targeting of public health nutrition policy for pre-school children in the UK. Further research is needed on the consequences for chronic disease in the future for these children.