Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Communication
  • Published:

Estimated energy intake, macronutrient intake and meal pattern of Flemish adolescents

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’.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Astrup, A, Grunwald, GK, Melanson, EL, Saris, WH & Hill, JO (2000). The role of low-fat diets in body weight control: a meta-analysis of ad libitum dietary intervention studies. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord., 24, 1545–1552.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bandini, LG, Schoeller, DA, Cyr, HN & Dietz, WH (1990). Validity of reported energy intake in obese and nonobese adolescents. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 52, 421–425.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bergström, E, Hernell, O & Persson, LA (1993). Dietary changes in Swedish adolescents. Acta Paediatr., 82, 472–480.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bingham, SA, Nelson, M, Paul, AA, Haraldsdottir, J, Björge, Löke E & Van Staveren, WA (1988). Methods for data collection at an individual level. In:Manual on Methodology for Food Consumption Studies, ed. ME Cameron & WA Van Staveren, pp53–106, Oxford: Oxford University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Black, AE (2000). The sensitivity and specificity of the Goldberg cut-off for EI:BMR for identifying diet reports of poor validity. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr., 54, 395–404.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Black, AE, Goldberg, GR, Jebb, SA, Livingstone, MB, Cole, TJ & Prentice, AM (1991). Critical evaluation of energy intake data using fundamental principles of energy physiology: 2. Evaluating the results of published surveys. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr., 45, 583–599.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bratteby, LE, Sandhagen, B, Fan, H, Enghardt, H & Samuelson, G (1998). Total energy expenditure and physical activity as assessed by the doubly labeled water method in Swedish adolescents in whom energy intake was underestimated by 7-d diet records. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 67, 905–911.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bray, GA & Popkin, BM (1998). Dietary fat intake does affect obesity. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 68, 1157–1173.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, TJ, Bellizzi, MC, Flegal, KM & Dietz, WH (2000). Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. Br. Med. J., 320, 1240–1243.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crawley, HF (1993). The energy, nutrient and food intakes of teenagers aged 16–17 years in Britain. 1. Energy, macronutrients and non-starch polysaccharides. Br. J. Nutr., 70, 15–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz, JA (2000). Dietary habits and nutritional status in adolescents over Europe—Southern Europe. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr., 54, (Suppl 1) S29–S35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deheeger, M, Rolland-Cachera, MF & Fontvieille, AM (1997). Physical activity and body composition in 10 year old French children: linkages with nutritional intake?. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord., 21, 372–379.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Henauw, S, Wilms, L, Mertens, J, Standaert, B & De Backer, G (1997). Overall and meal-specific macronutrient intake in Belgian primary school children. Ann. Nutr. Metab, 41, 89–97.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, GR, Black, AE, Jebb, SA, Cole, TJ, Murgatroyd, PR, Coward, WA & Prentice, AM (1991). Critical evaluation of energy intake data using fundamental principles of energy physiology: 1. Derivation of cut-off limits to identify under-recording. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr., 45, 569–581.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hercberg, S, Preziosi, P, Galan, P, Deheeger, M & Dupin, H (1991). [Dietary intake in a representative sample of the population of Val-de Marne: II. Supply of macronutrients]. Rev. Epidemiol. Sante Publique, 39, 233–244.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horwath, CC (1991). Dietary intake and nutritional status among university undergraduates. Nutr. Res., 11, 395–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kafatos, A & Codrington, CA (1999). Nutrition and diet for healthy lifestyles in Europe: the ‘Eurodiet’ Project. Public Health Nutr., 2, 327–328.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kersting, M, Sichert-Hellert, W, Alexy, U, Manz, F & Schoch, G (1998). Macronutrient intake of 1 to 18 year old German children and adolescents. Z. Ernahrungswiss., 37, 252–259.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kornitzer, M & Bara, L (1989). Differences between north and south in coronary risk factors, food habits and mortality in Belgium. For the B.I.R.N.H. Study Group. Acta Cardiol., 44, 145–155.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lambe, J, Kearney, J, Leclercrq, C, Berardi, D, Zunft, HF, Sulzer, S, de Henauw, S, De Volder, M, Lamberg-Allardt, CJ, Karkkainen, MU, Dunne, A & Gibney, MJ (2000). Enhancing the capacity of food consumption surveys of short duration to estimate long-term consumer-only intakes by combination with a qualitative food frequency questionnaire. Food Addit. Contam., 17, 177–187.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Livingstone, MB, Prentice, AM, Coward, WA, Strain, JJ, Black, AE, Davies, PS, Stewart, CM, McKenna, PG & Whitehead, RG (1992). Validation of estimates of energy intake by weighed dietary record and diet history in children and adolescents. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 56, 29–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig, DS, Peterson, KE & Gortmaker, SL (2001). Relation between consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and childhood obesity: a prospective, observational analysis. Lancet, 357, 505–508.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Macdiarmid, JI & Blundell, JE (1997). Dietary under-reporting: what people say about recording their food intake. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr., 51, 199–200.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nationale Raad voor de Voeding (1996). Voedingsaanbevelingen voor België., Brussels: Hoge Gezondheidsraad, Ministerie van Sociale Zaken, Volksgezondheid en Leefmilieu

  • NEVO (1993). NEVO Tabel, Nederlands voedingsstoffenbestand., Zeist: NEVO

  • NUBEL (1992). Belgische Voedingsmiddelentabel., Brussels: Ministerie van Volksgezondheid

  • NUBEL (1995). Belgische Voedinsmiddelentabel, tweede uitgave., Brussels: Ministerie van Volksgezondheid

  • Paulus, D, Saint-Remy, A & Jeanjean, M (2001). Dietary habits during adolescence—results of the Belgian Adolux Study. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr., 55, 130–136.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Samuelson, G, Bratteby, LE, Enghardt, H & Hedgren, M (1996). Food habits and energy and nutrient intake in Swedish adolescents approaching the year 2000. Acta Paediatr. Suppl., 415, 1–19, [Published erratum appears in Acta Paediatr. Suppl. 1996; 85(11), 1392.]

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schofield, WN, Schofield, C & James, WPT (1985). Basal metabolic rate. Hum. Nutr. Clin. Nutr., 39, (Suppl 1) 1–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • SPSS (1999). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, 10th edn. Chicago, IL: SPSS

  • Unilever (1992). Becel Voedingsprogramma., Rotterdam: Nederlandse Unilever Bedrijven B.V.

  • Vakgroep Humane Voeding en TNO Voeding (1997). Maten, Gewichten en Codenummers., Wageningen: Vakgroep Humane Voeding

  • Verdonk, G, Notte-de Ruyter, A & Huyghebaert-Deschoolmeester, MJ (1982). Het maaltijdpatroon bij Vlaamse schoolkinderen en adolescenten. Voeding, 43, 405–411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willett, WC (2000). Will high-carbohydrate/low-fat diets reduce the risk of coronary heart disease?. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 225, 187–190.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, CL (1995). Importance of dietary fiber in childhood. J. Am. Diet. Assoc., 95, 1140–1146, 1149

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1985). Energy and Protein Requirements, Technical Report Series 724, Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation Geneva: WHO

  • World Health Organization (1995). Physical status: the use and interpretation of anthropometry, Technical Report Series 854. Geneva: WHO

Download references

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’.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C Matthys.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

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

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601533

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links