A snapshot of country-specific dietary habits and obesity in European children: the Feel4Diabetes study

Mahmood, Lubna ; Moreno, Luis A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Schwarz, Peter ; Willems, Ruben ; Cardon, Greet ; Hilal, Soukaina ; Rurik, Imre ; Iotova, Violeta ; Bazdarska, Yuliya ; Dimova, Roumyana ; Anastasiou, Kostas ; Manios, Yannis ; Gonzalez-Gil, Esther M. ; Civeira, Fernando ; Bueno, Gloria (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; De Miguel-Etayo, Pilar ; Miguel-Berges, María L. ; Giménez-Legarre, Natalia (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Flores-Barrantes, Paloma ; Ayala-Marín, Aleli M. ; Seral-Cortés, Miguel (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Baila-Rueda, Lucia (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Cenarro, Ana ; Jarauta, Estíbaliz (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Mateo-Gallego, Rocío (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Timpel, Patrick ; Ungvari, Timea ; Jancsó, Zoltán ; Nánási, Anna ; Kolozsvári, László ; Semánova, Csilla ; Bíró, Éva ; Antal, Emese ; Radó, Sándorné ; Martinez, Remberto ; Tong, Marcos ; Tankova, Tsvetalina ; Usheva, Natalia ; Tsochev, Kaloyan ; Chakarova, Nevena ; Galcheva, Sonya ; Bachata, Yana ; Radkova, Zhaneta ; Marinova, Vanya ; Stefanova, Tanya ; Karatzi, Kalliopi ; Androutsos, Odysseas ; Moschonis, George ; Kanellakis, Spyridon ; Mavrogianni, Christina ; Tsoutsoulopoulou, Konstantina ; Katsarou, Christina ; Karaglani, Eva ; Qira, Irini ; Skoufas, Efstathios ; Maragkopoulou, Konstantina ; Tsiafitsa, Antigone ; Sotiropoulou, Irini ; Tsolakos, Michalis ; Argyri, Effie ; Nikolaou, Mary ; Vampouli, Eleni-Anna ; Filippou, Christina ; Apergi, Kyriaki ; Filippou, Amalia ; Katerina, Gatsiou ; Dimitriadis, Efstratios ; Makrilakis, Konstantinos ; Liatis, Stavros ; Dafoulas, George ; Lambrinou, Christina-Paulina ; Giannopoulou, Angeliki ; Lindström, Jaana ; Laatikainen, Tiina ; Wikström, Katja ; Kivelä, Jemina ; Valve, Päivi ; Levälahti, Esko ; Virtanen, Eeva ; Pennanen, Tiina ; lli, Seija ; Nelimarkka, Karoliina ; Ko, Winne ; Karuranga, Ernest [...] Show all 84 authors

Resumen: This study assessed the dietary intake of European children by country, gender, and obesity degree across six European countries participating in the Feel4Diabetes study. It also compared food group intakes with European food-based dietary guidelines. The Feel4Diabetes study included 9,847 children (50.4% girls) from six European countries. Families provided baseline data on energy balance-related behaviors and socioeconomic factors via questionnaires. Children’s dietary intake and breakfast consumption were assessed using semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires, and anthropometric measurements were taken. Intake from 11 food groups was analyzed by country, gender, and obesity degree. Chi-square analyses compared food intake with dietary guidelines. “Nutrient-dense " foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, whole grains) and "energy-dense, low-nutrient" foods (e.g., high in added sugars, saturated fats) were categorized based on the European food-based guideline. Over 85% of children consumed breakfast 5–7 days a week, with no significant differences by Body Mass Index (BMI) or country. Mean intakes of nutrient-dense food groups fell below recommendations, while the intake of energy-dense, low-nutrient foods exceeded limits, particularly in children with overweight/obesity (p = 0.048). No significant gender differences were observed in most food groups.
Conclusions: Dietary intake varied by country and obesity degree among European children. Across the six countries, children’s diets did not align with food-based dietary guidelines. These findings underscore the need for interventions promoting healthier eating habits among European children.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1007/s00431-025-06037-4

Año: 2025

Publicado en: European Journal of Pediatrics 184, 3 (2025), 214 [12 pp.]
ISSN: 0340-6199

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Enfermería (Dpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería)
Área (Departamento): Area Medicina (Dpto. Medicina, Psiqu. y Derm.)
Área (Departamento): Area Admón. OTRI (Oficina Transf.Result. Invest.)
Área (Departamento): Área Medic.Prevent.Salud Públ. (Dpto. Microb.Ped.Radio.Sal.Pú.)
Área (Departamento): Área Pediatría (Dpto. Microb.Ped.Radio.Sal.Pú.)