The Diet of Preschool Children in the Mediterranean Countries of the European Union: A Systematic Review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess dietary intake patterns, including dairy consumption, and their association with nutritional status and overweight/obesity in preschool children from Mediterranean EU countries.
Results Summary
The study found high energy and high protein intakes mainly from dairy products in most countries, alongside excessive sodium intake and early prevalence of overweight/obesity. Low adherence to a Mediterranean-like diet, which includes dairy, was associated with higher overweight/obesity rates.
Population
Preschool children living in Mediterranean countries of the European Union.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
fruit and vegetables consumption | increase | dietary intake | young children living in the Mediterranean countries of the European Union | - | consumed quite frequently | #1 |
sugared beverages and snacks consumption | increase | dietary intake | young children living in the Mediterranean countries of the European Union | - | consumed | #2 |
dairy products consumption | increase | energy and protein intake | young children in the majority of countries | - | found high energy and high protein intakes mainly from | #3 |
sodium intake | increase | sodium intake | the majority of children | - | consumed excessive | #4 |
early consumption of energy-dense foods | no change | dietary pattern persistence | children | - | seemed to track across toddler and preschool ages | #5 |
overweight | no change | weight status persistence | children | - | seemed to track across toddler and preschool ages | #6 |
low adherence to a Mediterranean-like diet | increase | overweight/obesity status | most children living in the analyzed countries | - | was associated with being overweight/obese | #7 |
unhealthier diets | decrease | diet quality | children | - | were associated with lower maternal educational level | #8 |
unhealthier diets | decrease | diet quality | children | - | were associated with parental unemployment | #9 |
programs promoting adherence of young children to the traditional Mediterranean diet | decrease | pediatric overweight and obesity | young children | - | should be part of a multi-intervention strategy for the prevention and treatment | #10 |
This systematic review discusses data on the dietary intake of preschool children living in the Mediterranean countries of the European Union, including the comparison with a Mediterranean-like diet and the association with nutritional status. Specifically, data from the multinational European Identification and Prevention on Dietary and life style induced health effects in children and infants (IDEFICS) study and national studies, such as the Estudo do Padrão Alimentar e de Crescimento Infantil (EPACI) study and Geração XXI cohort in Portugal, ALimentando la SAlud del MAñana (ALSALMA) study in Spain, Étude des Déterminants pré-et postnatals précoces du développement et de la santé de l'ENfant (EDEN) cohort in France, Nutrintake 636 study in Italy, and Growth, Exercise and Nutrition Epidemiological Study in preSchoolers (GENESIS) cohort in Greece, were analyzed. In the majority of countries, young children consumed fruit and vegetables quite frequently, but also consumed sugared beverages and snacks. High energy and high protein intakes mainly from dairy products were found in the majority of countries. The majority of children also consumed excessive sodium intake. Early high prevalence of overweight and obesity was found, and both early consumption of energy-dense foods and overweight seemed to track across toddler and preschool ages. Most children living in the analyzed countries showed low adherence to a Mediterranean-like diet, which in turn was associated with being overweight/obese. Unhealthier diets were associated with lower maternal educational level and parental unemployment. Programs promoting adherence of young children to the traditional Mediterranean diet should be part of a multi-intervention strategy for the prevention and treatment of pediatric overweight and obesity.