Trends and Urban-Rural Disparities of Energy Intake and Macronutrient Composition among Chinese Children: Findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1991 to 2015) |
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Authors: | Jian Zhao Lijun Zuo Jian Sun Chang Su Huijun Wang |
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Affiliation: | 1.Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China;2.Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China;3.School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China;4.National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China; |
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Abstract: | The nutrition status of children is gaining more attention with a rapid nutrition transition. This study aimed to investigate trends and urban-rural differences in dietary energy and macronutrient composition among Chinese children. A total of 7565 participants aged 6 to 17 years were obtained from three rounds (1991, 2004 and 2015) of the Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). The individual diet was evaluated via three consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls and compared with the Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). From 1991 to 2015, there was a significant increase in children’s fat intake, the proportion of energy intake from fat, and the proportion of children with more than 30% of energy from fat and less than 50% of energy from carbohydrates (p < 0.001). Compared with the DRI, the proportion with higher fat and lower carbohydrate intakes were, respectively, 64.7% and 46.8% in 2015. The urban-rural disparities in fat and carbohydrate intake gradually narrowed, while the gap in protein intake increased notably over time (p < 0.001). Chinese children experienced a rapid transformation to a low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet. Urban-rural disparities persistently existed; further nutritional interventions and education were of great significance, so as to ensure a more balanced diet for Chinese children. |
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Keywords: | children, urban– rural disparity, nutrition transition, macronutrient, dietary reference intake |
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