Abstract
Objective: To describe the energy and macronutrient intake and the meal patterns of Flemish adolescents, aged 13–18 y.
Methods: A 7 day estimated food record was administered to the whole sample.
Setting: Secondary schools in the city of Ghent, Belgium.
Subjects: A total of 341 adolescents (13–18 y) selected by a multistage clustered sampling (participation: 72.7%).
Main results: A significant increase with age was observed in total energy intake in adolescent boys (P<0.01), but not in girls. The energy distribution over the macronutrients showed no significant difference between boys and girls. On average, 35.7% (s.d. 4.81%) of energy came from total fat and 15.4% (s.d. 2.46%) from saturated fatty acids; 49.0% (s.d. 5.28%) from total carbohydrates with 25.1% (s.d. 4.49%) from complex carbohydrates and 23.9% (s.d. 5.86%) from free sugars. The energy contribution of alcohol in the 16–18 y-old-group was significantly higher as compared with the 13–15 y-old-group, for both boys and girls. Snacks between meals accounted for almost 20% of the total energy intake. Lunch and dinner were characterized by high total fat content.
Conclusions: These students consumed a diet high in total fat and in saturated fatty acids and also high in mono- and disaccharides. Observed mean intakes deviate considerably from the Belgian dietary guidelines. A low energy intake at breakfast was observed, while a higher proportion of energy was derived from snacks.
Sponsorship: This research was supported by the National Fund for Scientific Research, the Kellogg's Benelux Company, Unilever Belgium, the Belgian Nutrition Information Center and the ‘Vlaams Wetenschappelijk Fonds’.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the dieticians Mrs M Bellemans and Mrs M De Maeyer for their important contribution to the fieldwork and the data input. This work was financially supported by the National Fund for Scientific Research (fund no. 31557898), the Kellogg's Benelux Company, Unilever Belgium, the Belgian Nutrition Information Center and the ‘Vlaams Wetenschappelijk Fonds’.
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Matthys, C., De Henauw, S., Devos, C. et al. Estimated energy intake, macronutrient intake and meal pattern of Flemish adolescents. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 366–375 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601533
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601533
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