Adherence to food-based dietary guidelines among adolescents in Germany according to socio-economic status and region: results from Eating Study as a KiGGS Module (EsKiMo) II

Abstract

Objective: Dietary habits developed during childhood and adolescence are likely to continue into adulthood. An unbalanced diet may cause nutrient deficiencies and excessive energy intake; these enhance the risk for developing overweight and obesity and their co-morbidities. In the present analysis, food consumption of adolescents is described and evaluated against German food-based dietary guidelines with special focus on socio-economic status (SES) and region of residence. Design: Within the ‘German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents’ (KiGGS Wave 2), the cross-sectional ‘Eating Study as a KiGGS Module’ (EsKiMo II) was conducted from 2015 until 2017 to provide data about dietary behaviour. Setting: Germany. Participants: 1353 adolescents aged 12–17 years from a nationwide representative sample with food consumption data from computer-assisted dietary history interviews. Results: The median consumption of fruits, vegetables, starchy foods and milk/dairy products among adolescents in Germany was below the recommendation. The median consumption of both meat/meat products and unfavourable foods, like confectionery, which should be consumed sparingly, was about 1·5 times the recommended amount. The total amount of beverages consumed by most adolescents was above the minimum amount recommended. Soft drink consumption of adolescents with a low SES was three to five times higher than soft drink consumption of adolescents with a high SES. Conclusions: The results indicate the need for an improvement of dietary habits among adolescents in Germany. Further approaches to promote healthy diets in Germany should be continued, and the focus on social inequalities should be strengthened.

Mediterranean Diet Adherence in a Sample of Italian Adolescents Attending Secondary School—The “#facciamoComunicAzione” Project

“…In fact, almost 50% of students consumed insufficient amounts of fruit and vegetables, less than 60% ate legumes and fish regularly, and more than 80% consumed meat and meat products more than once a day. Similar data were recently reported across EU countries in the latest Health at Glance Report 2020 [ 29 ] and in the Eating Study as a KiGGS Module (EsKiMo) II, conducted on 1353 adolescents aged 15–17 years [ 30 ]. Notably, only one in nine adolescents reported eating five or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day, while meat consumption was well above recommendations.…”

Socioeconomic Status Impact on Diet Quality and Body Mass Index in Eight Latin American Countries: ELANS Study Results

“…Since the focus is on foods and diet quality rather than the effect of single nutrients on health, understanding how diet quality is associated with socio-demographics and micronutrients intake has become relevant to nutrition research [11][12][13]. However, there is a gap in research that has been undertaken in low-and middle-income countries, including LA countries.…”

“…Multi-country surveys provide important information on health behaviors of a population and sub-groups. Information including inadequacy of dietary intake in certain population groups is needed to identify relevant fields of action for public health policies and behavioral-change interventions [ 13 ]. The Latin American Health and Nutrition Study (acronym in Spanish and Portuguese, ELANS) [ 14 ] provides an opportunity to understand these gaps.…”

Association between COVID-19 morbidity, mortality, and gross domestic product, overweight/ obesity, non-communicable diseases, vaccination rate: A cross-sectional study

“…Having overweight/obese directly depends on the social and economic status of a population [20] , [21] . It is indeed true, as our study results have shown that GDP as an indicator of an economic status of a country directly influences the increase in a population of people with overweight and obesity.…”