Diet- and Body Size-related Attitudes and Behaviors Associated with Vitamin Supplement Use in a Representative Sample of Fourth-grade Students in Texas

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior 2009-03, Vol.41 (2), p.95-102
• Main Authors: George, Goldy C., PhD, Hoelscher, Deanna M., PhD, RD, LD, CNS, Nicklas, Theresa A., DrPH, Kelder, Steven H., PhD, MPH
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anthropometric measurements; Body Height; body image; Body Size; Body Weight; Case Studies; Child; Child Behavior - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; diet-related attitudes; Dietary supplements; dietary surveys; Dietetics; Eating Habits; Elementary school students; elementary schoolchild; Feeding Behavior - ethnology; Female; Food; food choices; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Grade 4; Health Behavior - ethnology; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; healthful diet; Human Body; Humans; Incidence; Internal Medicine; Legislators; Lifestyles; Logistic Models; Male; Measures (Individuals); Motor Activity; multiethnic; novel foods; nutrition knowledge; Physical Activities; physical activity; Probability; probability-based sample; Questionnaires; Regression (Statistics); school children; Self Concept; Student Attitudes; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires; Texas; vitamin supplement use; vitamin supplements; Vitamins; Vitamins - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620; 1708-8259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2008.05.006

Abstract Objective To examine diet- and body size-related attitudes and behaviors associated with supplement use in a representative sample of fourth-grade students in Texas. Design Cross-sectional data from the School Physical Activity and Nutrition study, a probability-based sample of schoolchildren. Children completed a questionnaire that assessed supplement use, food choices, diet-related attitudes, and physical activity; height and weight were measured. Setting School classrooms. Participants Representative sample of fourth-grade students in Texas (n = 5967; mean age = 9.7 years standard error of the mean [SEM] = .03 years, 46% Hispanic, 11% African-American). Main Outcome Measures Previous day vitamin supplement consumption, diet- and body size-related attitudes, food choices, demographic factors, and physical activity. Analysis Multivariable logistic regression models, P < .05. Results The prevalence of supplement use was 29%. Supplement intake was associated with physical activity. Girls who used supplements were more likely to report positive body image and greater interest in trying new food. Relative to nonusers, supplement users were less likely to perceive that they always ate healthful food, although supplement use was associated with more healthful food choices in boys and girls ( P < .001). Conclusions and Implications The widespread use of supplements and clustering of supplement use with healthful diet and greater physical activity in fourth graders suggest that supplement use be closely investigated in studies of diet–disease precursor relations and lifestyle factors in children.