Water intake and beverage consumption of pre-schoolers from six European countries and associations with socio-economic status: the ToyBox-study. Issue 13 (18th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pinket, An-Sofie; De Craemer, Marieke; Maes, Lea; De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse; Cardon, Greet; Androutsos, Odysseas; Koletzko, Berthold; Moreno, Luis; Socha, Piotr; Iotova, Violeta; Manios, Yannis; Van Lippevelde, Wendy
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 19:Issue 13(2016)
• Page Start: 2315
• Page End: 2325
• Publication Date: 2015-12-18
• Subjects: Pre-schoolers, -- Water intake, -- Beverages, -- Socio-economic status; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980015003559
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To study the quantity and quality of water intake from beverages among pre-schoolers and investigate associations with gender and socio-economic status (SES). Design: Kindergarten-based cross-sectional survey within the large-scale European ToyBox-study. A standardized protocol was used and parents/caregivers filled in sociodemographic data and a semi-quantitative FFQ. Setting: Kindergartens in six European countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland and Spain). Subjects: European pre-schoolers (aged 3·5–5·5 years) and their parents/caregivers ( n 7051). Results: Mean water intake was 1051 ml/d; plain water, 547 ml/d; plain milk, 241 ml/d; other fruit juice, 104 ml/d; pure fruit juice, 59 ml/d; soft drinks, 55 ml/d; tea, 45 ml/d; sugared and chocolate milk, 37 ml/d; smoothies, 15 ml/d; and light soft drinks, 6 ml/d. Boys had a higher water intake than girls due to a higher consumption of plain water, but more importantly to the consumption of beverages of less quality. Lower-SES pre-schoolers scored better on quantity than high-SES pre-schoolers, but as a consequence of consumption of sugared beverages. Nevertheless, the associations differed by country. Conclusions: The water intake from beverages did not meet the European Food Safety Authority standard of 1280 ml/d; especially in Western European countries water intake from beverages was low. The most important water sources were plain water, milk and fruit juices. Interventions aiming at a proper and sufficient water intake should focus on both quantity and quality. Messages about water and water sources should be clear for everyone and interventions should be sufficiently tailored.