Food Intake, Diet Quality and Behavioral Problems in Children: Results from the GINI-plus/LISA-plus Studies

Abstract

Background/Aims: To assess the association between food intake and diet quality and behavioral problems at the 10-year follow-up of the two population-based birth cohorts of the studies German Infant Nutritional Intervention and ‘Influences of lifestyle-related factors on the immune system and the development of allergies in childhood’. Methods: Cross-sectional data on food intake over the past year were collected by a parent-reported food frequency questionnaire. Diet quality was based on reference values of food amounts of the optimized mixed diet. Behavioral problems were assessed by a parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Relationships between food category intake, diet quality and behavior problems were examined using multivariable regression modeling adjusted for gender, sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index, physical exercise, television viewing/PC use and total energy intake. A total of 3,361 children with complete data were analyzed. Results: Children with increased intake of confectionery had increased odds of having emotional symptoms [adjusted odds ratio (OR_adj) 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–1.32] compared to children with low intake. A higher diet quality score was associated with lower likelihood of emotional symptoms (OR_adj 0.89, 95% CI 0.80–0.98). The unadjusted significant relationship between diet quality and hyperactivity/inattention was attenuated by adjusting for several confounders to an OR_adj of 0.92 (95% CI 0.82–1.03). Conclusions: Increased consumption of high-sugar products and lower diet quality are associated with a higher likelihood of emotional symptoms in children.

The Cross-Sectional Association between Diet Quality and Depressive Symptomology amongst Fijian Adolescents

“…Whilst it is important to consider the impact of socio-economic status (and indeed the developmental status of a country) on this relationship, given that both are established indicators of dietary patterns [38] and mental health outcomes [39], it remains relevant to consider and compare studies conducted in HICs. Several studies conducted in HICs have found associations between higher healthy dietary quality and lower depressive symptomology in adolescents [12, 14, 16, 17, 19], supporting the findings of the present study.…”

Mental health and food consumption among California children 5–11 years of age

“…Studies involving sugar and behavioral problems have been inconclusive, though correlation studies have been described as showing that among children, consumption of large amounts of sugar was associated with lowered attention spans (Bellisle, 2004;Soh et al, 2009) and controlled experimental studies have indicated that children who consumed greater amounts of sugar were not overly active (Bellisle, 2004;Soh et al, 2009). Although an earlier metaanalysis of nutrition in psychology studies indicated that sugar does not affect the behavior or cognitive abilities of children when consumed in high amounts (Wolraich et al, 1995), more recent cohort studies among young children found that low quality diets high in refined sugar resulted in increased levels of hyperactivity (Wiles et al, 2009) or likelihood of emotional symptoms (Kohlboeck et al, 2012). Higher intake of sugar-sweetened products and poor quality diet were found to be associated with a greater likelihood of behavioral problems in children (Kohlboeck et al, 2012).…”

Development of a Dietary Index to Assess Overall Diet Quality for Chinese School-Aged Children: The Chinese Children Dietary Index

“…Germany (0 to 17 years), [19][20][21][22][23] Finland (1 to 6 years), 24 Spain (2 to 24 years), [25][26][27] and Canada (older than 3 years). 28,29 A few dietary indices measured diet quality among children in Asian countries.…”