Eating at food outlets and leisure places and “on the go” is associated with less-healthy food choices than eating at home and in school in children: cross-sectional data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Program (2008–2014)

Abstract

BackgroundWhere children eat has been linked to variations in diet quality, including the consumption of low-nutrient, energy-dense food, a recognized risk factor for obesity.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive analysis of consumption patterns and nutritional intake by eating location in British children with the use of a nationally representative survey.DesignCross-sectional data from 4636 children (80,075 eating occasions) aged 1.5–18 y from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Program (2008–2014) were analyzed. Eating locations were categorized as home, school, work, leisure places, food outlets, and “on the go.” Foods were classified into core (considered important or acceptable within a healthy diet) and noncore (all other foods). Other variables included the percentage of meals eaten at home, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, income, frequency of eating out, takeaway meal consumption, alcohol consumption, and smoking.ResultsThe main eating location across all age groups was at home (69–79% of eating occasions), with the highest energy intakes. One-third of children from the least-affluent families consumed ≤25% of meals at home. Eating more at home was associated with less sugar and takeaway food consumption. Eating occasions in leisure places, food outlets, and “on the go” combined increased with age, from 5% (1.5–3 y) to 7% (11–18 y), with higher energy intakes from noncore foods in these locations. The school environment was associated with higher intakes of core foods and reduced intakes of noncore foods in children aged 4–10 y who ate school-sourced foods.ConclusionsHome and school eating are associated with better food choices, whereas other locations are associated with poor food choices. Effective, sustained initiatives targeted at behaviors and improving access to healthy foods in leisure centers and food outlets, including food sold to eat “on the go,” may improve food choices. Home remains an important target for intervention through family and nutrition education, outreach, and social marketing campaigns. This trial was registered with the ISRTCN registry (https://www.isrctn.com) as ISRCTN17261407.

A systematic evaluation of digital nutrition promotion websites and apps for supporting parents to influence children’s nutrition

“…Homes are a natural setting for nutrition promotion with 60-70% of children's food intake provided from within this setting [7,8] (Price 2014, unpublished findings). Parents are the primary "gatekeepers" within homes, serving as role models, determining food availability and setting the family norms that shape children's habits [9].…”

Dietary and Lifestyle Patterns in the Spanish Pediatric Population (One to <10 Years Old): Design, Protocol, and Methodology of the EsNuPI Study

“…There were national and international studies that investigated children's lifestyles including diet, dietary patterns, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors [7,8,63,64]. However, there is currently no current information on children (one to <10 years) in Mediterranean populations.…”

“…The NDNS that was conducted in 2012 comprised a four-day diary and an evaluation of the physical activity levels of children aged three to 15 years. However, in the group aged 1-3 years, the physical activity was not collected [63].…”

Snacks and The City: Unexpected Low Sales of an Easy-Access, Tasty, and Healthy Snack at an Urban Snacking Hotspot

“…In the case of snacking at home, however, people at least have the option of not bringing unhealthy snacks from the supermarket home in the first place and thereby avoid being tempted by unhealthy snacks in their kitchen cupboards [ 35 ]. By contrast, when snacking outside the home and “on the go”, there seem to be hotspots for unhealthy snacking that offer only few and uninspiring healthy snack alternatives [ 36 ]. Several studies have accordingly suggested that healthy food choices should be made at least as readily available outside the home as unhealthy foods, especially with a view to improving younger people’s diets [ 37 ].…”