246 - Dietary variety in Children with Food Insecurity

Poster Number: 246
Publication Number: 246.141

Nathan Bryan, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States; Rajeev Agrawal, MedStar Health, Washington, DC, United States; Stephen Fernandez, MedStar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, MD, United States; Hannah Leu, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States; Lewis P. Rubin, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States; Janine A. Rethy, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue, DC, United States

Background: Dietary variety is at the core of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).1 Consuming a large variety of different foods contributes significantly to nutrient adequacy2 and improves several different markers of good health.3,4 The lack of dietary diversity is a known problem among the world’s poor populations.5 Studies have shown that a decrease in dietary diversity is associated with lower socio-economic status and food insecurity.6,7 The diets of young children are largely influenced by repeated food exposure and mealtime modeling of their parents.8,9 Studies have shown that children with picky eating have less varied diets.10 Food insecurity, which contributes to poor dietary variety, may also position children living in food insecure homes to develop picky eating. These children are subsequently at-risk for nutritional deficiencies and poor eating habits later in life.

Objective: To assess nutritional quality and dietary variety in young children with food insecurity.

Design/Methods: Thirty-eight families, with children ages 0 – 5 years who are patients in a community primary care clinic, were enrolled in a twelve month program to address food insecurity through meal and grocery delivery. The study was IRB approved at Georgetown University-MedStar Health IRB#3212. Baseline assessments were conducted and used in the analysis. Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were conducted using the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour (ASA24) dietary assessment tool. Dietary variety was calculated from the ASA24 data using three validated indices: the Food Variety Score (FVS) reflects total unique foods, the Food and Agricultural Organization’s Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) reflects number of food groups consumed, and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) reflects the degree to which dietary quality is meeting the United States Department of Agriculture guidelines. 

Results: Baseline HEI scores in the study population were 48.6 for the caregivers and 52.7 for children. Both were lower than national averages (58 for adults, 60 for children). Baseline FVS mean scores were 8.0 for children and 7.7 for adults. DDS mean scores were 5.67 for children and 5.7 for adults.  Conclusion(s): In this population of young children experiencing food insecurity, we used three tools to describe nutritional quality and dietary variety. For these children, poor dietary quality and lack of healthy food exposure may negatively influence eating habits and subsequent health outcomes. Future research using these tools could explore these relationships and the impact of interventions.  
Dietary variety scoresDietary variety was calculated from the ASA24 diet recall data using three validated indices: the Food Variety Score (FVS), the Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI).