Mental health and food consumption among California children 5–11 years of age. Issue 3 (July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Banta, Jim E; Khoie-Mayer, Roxanne N; Somaiya, Chintan K; McKinney, Ogbochi; Segovia-Siapco, Gina
• Is Part Of: Nutrition and health. Volume 22:Issue 3/4(2013)
• Page Start: 237
• Page End: 253
• Publication Date: 2013-07
• Subjects: Mental health -- children -- food preference -- California Health Interview Survey -- epidemiology; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Diet -- Periodicals; Diet therapy -- Periodicals; 613.205
• DOI: 10.1177/0260106015599511
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0260-1060

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this research was to determine if poor mental health is associated with the intake of specific foods among California children. Design: Secondary data analysis of the 2007 and 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) was conducted. Mental health was measured using a shortened version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Dietary measures were self-reported servings of fruit, vegetables, 100% fruit juice, high sugar foods, soda/sweetened drinks, and French fries/fried potatoes consumed the previous day, as well as frequency of fast food consumed during the past week. Setting: Phone interviews were conducted via the CHIS on households in California. Subjects: Data belonging to children ( n = 11, 190) ages 5–11 years whose parents completed the CHIS 2007 and 2009 random-dial telephone surveys was investigated. Results: Of an estimated annual population of 3.7 million children, 180, 000 (4.9%) had poor mental health. Children with poor mental health consumed more soda/sweetened drinks (0.60 vs 0.45 servings per day, p = 0.024), French fries/fried potatoes (0.27 vs 0.14 servings per day, p = 0.003), and fast food (2.02 vs 1.38 servings per week, p = 0.009) compared to children with good mental health. Mental health was not associated with other dietary measures. Adjusting for relevant socio-demographic characteristics, logistic regression found poor mental health to be significantly associated with any consumption of French fries/fried potatoes (odds ratio (OR) = 2.0, p = 0.001) or vegetables (OR 0.6, p = 0.005) on the previous day, and fast food two or more times in the past week (OR 1.7, p < 0.001). Interaction analysis revealed that an estimated 33% of girls with poor mental health consumed French fries, compared to 12% of girls with good mental health (OR 2.91, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Children with poor mental health are more likely to consume calorie-dense but nutrient-poor foods compared to their counterparts. Intake of such foods may contribute to worse physical health as these children mature.