Association between Frequency of Ready-to-Eat Cereal Consumption,Nutrient Intakes,and Body Mass Index in Fourth- to Sixth-Grade Low-Income Minority Children

BackgroundThe consumption of non-ready-to-eat cereal and ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) breakfasts have been associated with increased nutrient intakes and lower body mass index (BMI). These relationships have not been examined in low-income minority children.ObjectivesTo evaluate, in low-income minority children, whether there is a relationship among the frequency of RTEC consumption and nutrient intakes measured at baseline, and whether there is a relationship between the frequency of RTEC and BMI controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, and energy intake.DesignA longitudinal study design where a cohort was followed for 3 years.Subjects/settingParticipants were 625 fourth- through sixth-grade, low-income children living in San Antonio, Texas, and enrolled in the control arm of the Bienestar Diabetes Prevention Program's cluster randomized trial. Three multiple-pass 24-hour dietary recalls were collected at the beginning of their fourth-grade year and at the end of their fifth- and sixth-grade years. Children's age, sex, ethnicity, and height and weight (used to calculate BMI) were collected between August 2001 and May 2004.Statistical analyses performedDescriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed. The frequency of breakfast consumption was examined using a 6×4 cross-tabulation table with χ² test to establish categorical differences. The degree of association between BMI percentile and frequency of RTEC consumption adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, and nutrition-related parameters were calculated using a partial correlation multivariate linear model analysis.ResultsThere was a significant positive relationship between the frequency of RTEC consumption and nutrient intakes measured at baseline. There was also a significant inverse relationship between frequency of RTEC consumption and BMI percentile over the cumulative 3-year period controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, and energy intake.ConclusionsChildren who frequently consumed RTEC had greater intakes of essential nutrients at baseline and significantly lower BMI over a 3-year period.