Trends in food consumption of schoolchildren from 2nd to 5th grade: a panel data analysis

ABSTRACT Objective To identify trends in food consumption among schoolchildren (2nd-5th grades) from public schools in the city of Florianópolis, Brazil, in a period of three years. Methods Three cross-sectional surveys were carried out in 2013 (n=1,942), 2014 (n=1,989) and 2015 (n=2,418). Dietary intake data were obtained using the Web-Based Food Intake and Physical Activity of Schoolchildren questionnaire. Food items were aggregated to eight food groups. Kruskal-Wallis heterogeneity and trend tests were used to analyze the differences and trends among the mean intake frequency of food groups. Results There were trends to decrease the mean intake frequency of sweets in the total sample (2013: 0.72±0.91; 2014: 0.68±0.87; 2015: 0.67±0.89, p=0.03) which was determined by children between 7-9 years old (2013: 0.69±0.88; 2014: 0.64±0.85; 2015: 0.62±0.87, p=0.02), and boys (2013: 0.75±0.90; 2014: 0.70±0.86; 2015: 0.68±0.88, p=0.03). Younger children also tended to increase the mean intake frequency of fruits and vegetables (2013: 1.03±1.35; 2014: 1.16±1.45; 2015: 1.17±1.41, p=0.03) and those aged ten-12 years decreased their intake of dairy products (2013: 1.32±1.25; 2014: 1.23±1.18; 2015: 1.20±1.20, p=0.05). Conclusion The results suggest positive trends for younger children, with an increased consumption of fruits and vegetables in both sexes and decreased consumption of sweets for boys. Older children reduced their consumption of dairy products over the three-year period of this study.