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By Amy Orciari Herman
Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
Roughly one-third of U.S. children aged 2 to 19 years eat fast food (including pizza) on a given day, according to data from the 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
The finding was based on responses to a 24-hour dietary recall interview. Among the other findings:
The average percentage of daily calories from fast food was 9% for children aged 2 to 11 years, rising to 17% for those 12 to 19 years.
Fast food consumption was lower among Asian children and adolescents (8% of daily calories) than among white (13%), Hispanic (11%), or black (14%) youth.
Consumption of fast food did not differ by sex, weight, or poverty status.
Comment
LINK(S):
National Center for Health Statistics data brief (Free)
Background: NEJM Journal Watch General Medicine coverage of fast food restaurant patrons underestimating the caloric content of their meals (Your NEJM Journal Watch registration required)