Bettocchi Silvia, D'Oria Veronica, De Cosmi Valentina, Scaglioni Silvia, Agostoni Carlo, Paglia Luigi, Paglia Michela, Colombo Sara, Braiotta Francesca, Beretta Matteo, Berti Cristiana
Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Nutrients. 2025 Feb 5;17(3):575. doi: 10.3390/nu17030575.
Poor nutrition in early life represents a relevant public health issue globally. The current study aimed to characterize eating habits among preschoolers and investigate the relationship with parents' nutritional status. A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study carried out at the Child Dentistry Clinics of the Istituto Stomatologico Italiano, Milan, Italy, including 171 patients aged 12-71 months and their parents, was conducted. Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, and information on children's eating habits were collected. The duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 5.9 (±6.8) months in 65% of children, and complementary feeding began at a mean (±SD) of 6.2 (±1.7) months in accordance with present recommendations. In contrast, the consumption of fruit juice 3.2 (±2.9) times/week, a protein intake of 3.0 (±0.6) g/kg, and a sugar intake of 20 (±8)% were over guideline limits. Overweight/obese children were introduced to cow's milk earlier ( = 0.033) and consumed a higher percentage of total fats ( = 0.026) whilst consuming a lower percentage of carbohydrates ( = 0.050). In terms of children with both parents being obese or overweight, they consumed more carbohydrates ( = 0.048). Finally, we found that birth weight correlated positively with maternal BMI (ρ = 0.159; < 0.05). The number of offspring correlated positively with the weekly frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption before 24 months (ρ = 0.282; < 0.001) whilst correlating negatively with the age of cow's milk introduction (ρ = -0.226; < 0.01). Our findings, according to recommendations, suggest that the prevention of obesity needs to begin in infancy. As parents play a pivotal role in establishing children's food choices, nutritional education aimed at families is needed.
早年营养不良是全球一个重要的公共卫生问题。本研究旨在描述学龄前儿童的饮食习惯，并调查其与父母营养状况的关系。对在意大利米兰意大利口腔医学研究所儿童牙科诊所进行的一项横断面研究进行了二次分析，该研究包括171名年龄在12至71个月的患者及其父母。收集了人口统计学数据、人体测量数据以及儿童饮食习惯信息。65%的儿童纯母乳喂养持续时间为5.9（±6.8）个月，按照当前建议，辅食添加平均始于6.2（±1.7）个月。相比之下，果汁摄入量为每周3.2（±2.9）次、蛋白质摄入量为3.0（±0.6）g/kg、糖摄入量为20（±8）%均超过了指南限值。超重/肥胖儿童更早开始饮用牛奶（P = 0.033），总脂肪摄入量占比更高（P = 0.026），而碳水化合物摄入量占比更低（P = 0.050）。父母双方均肥胖或超重的儿童碳水化合物摄入量更多（P = 0.048）。最后，我们发现出生体重与母亲BMI呈正相关（ρ = 0.159；P < 0.05）。子女数量与24个月前含糖饮料每周饮用频率呈正相关（ρ = 0.282；P < 0.001），而与牛奶引入年龄呈负相关（ρ = -0.226；P < 0.01）。根据建议，我们的研究结果表明肥胖预防需要从婴儿期开始。由于父母在确定儿童食物选择方面起着关键作用，因此需要针对家庭开展营养教育。
