WIC and non-WIC Infants and Children Differ in Usage of Some WIC-Provided Foods

Abstract

BackgroundUSDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides expert-chosen supplemental foods to improve the diets and health of low-income infants and children <5 y of age, but dietary behaviors of WIC participants are not well characterized.ObjectiveThe purpose of this analysis was to examine differences in food consumption patterns between WIC participants and nonparticipants.MethodsFITS 2016 is a nationwide cross-sectional study of children <4 y (n = 3235). Data were weighted to provide US population–representative results. Children were categorized as WIC participants or nonparticipants, with the latter divided into lower- and higher-income nonparticipants. Group differences were assessed via the Wald test (demographics) and Rao-Scott modified chi-square test (breastfeeding prevalence). Differences in percentage consuming WIC-provided and selected other foods between WIC participants and nonparticipants were evaluated with the use of ORs and 95% CIs.ResultsWIC infants were less likely to breastfeed than were higher-income nonparticipants at 0–5.9 mo (45% compared with 74%) and less likely than both nonparticipant groups at 6–11.9 mo (30% compared with 49–60%). WIC 6- to 11.9-mo-olds were more likely to consume infant cereals and vegetables than were lower-income nonparticipants. WIC 12 to 23.9-mo-olds were more likely to drink whole milk (which WIC provides at this age) than were nonparticipants (72% compared with 59–64%), whereas WIC participants 24–47.9 mo were more likely to drink low- and nonfat milks (which WIC provides at this age) than were nonparticipants (45% compared with 13–22%). WIC participants 6–47.9 mo were more likely to drink juice than were nonparticipants.ConclusionsContinued improvements in early dietary patterns are warranted for WIC and non-WIC children. Breastfeeding among WIC participants is a continuing challenge. Findings suggest that baby-food cereals, vegetables, and fruits (all provided by WIC) contribute importantly to WIC infants’ diets, whereas WIC children are more likely to use lower-fat milks after 2 y of age than are non-WIC participants.

The Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) 2016: Moving Forward

“…However, the prevalence and duration of exclusive breastfeeding still fell short of the Healthy People 2020 goals. Guthrie et al ( 13 ) found that infants participating in WIC were less likely to be put to the breast at all, and if they were, were breastfed for a shorter time than non-WIC participants.…”

“…The prevalence of introducing solids <4 mo of age continued to decline ( 10 ), compared with FITS 2008 ( 11 ), confirming NHANES data that also suggest a lower prevalence of complementary feeding in very young infants than previously reported ( 8 ). However, infants consuming any formula were more likely to be introduced to complementary foods <4 mo of age ( 10 ), whereas, paradoxically, infants participating in WIC (who are more likely to be fed formula) were less likely to be introduced to complementary foods <4 mo of age ( 13 ). This suggests that WIC recipients are influenced by what foods WIC provides (i.e., for very young infants, WIC provides formula, but not complementary foods).…”

“…Welker et al ( 23 ) found that young children (ages 24–47.9 mo) were about equally likely to drink whole milk, 2% milk, and 1% milk, but few drank skim milk, highlighting a need to continue efforts to shift from whole to lower-fat varieties at age 24 mo. WIC children were more likely to make this shift to lower-fat varieties at ages 24 mo than were non-WIC children ( 13 ).…”

“…White potatoes remained the most commonly consumed vegetable, as in 2008, although children were eating fewer fried potatoes. However, unlike 2008, when WIC infants were much less likely to be consuming vegetables than non-WIC infants, WIC infants in 2016 were about equally likely to be consuming vegetables as non-WIC participants were, and are generally more likely to consume baby-food vegetables and less likely to consume nonbaby-food vegetables than nonparticipants are ( 13 ). Thus, the addition of baby-food vegetables to the WIC package may have been helpful in bringing about this improvement.…”

Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) 2016: Findings and Thoughts on the Third Data Cycle

“…The new WIC program regulations included steps such as eliminating fruit juice from the infant package, additional promotion of breastfeeding initiation and duration, and routine switch to low- or nonfat milk for older children. All of this is summarized in detail in the paper by Guthrie et al ( 39 ) for foods and that by Jun et al ( 40 ) for nutrients. These findings demonstrate opportunities for improvements in dietary intake in WIC participants and to improve the WIC system of nutrition education and supplement foods.…”