Beverage Consumption for Children and Adolescents - Essay Example

How much the public responded to the AAP recommendation or at what level was their consumption as far as the recommended volume was is a good input to determine possible steps and health programs to fully address the nutritional issue.

Methods used

The research made use of data obtained from 1994-1996, 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII), a survey involving non-institutionalized individuals

in the United States. Data obtained from the 1998 Supplemental Children’s Survey involving 5,559 children aged birth through 9 years old were also included in the study. These surveys involved 24-hour recall of food intake for one or two nonconsecutive days. The consumption for two days and appropriate weighting factors were used to calculate the average daily intake of beverages for individuals aged birth through 18 years old. The beverages are categorized as 100% fruit juice (citrus juice plus non-citrus juices and nectars), total fluid milk, total carbonated beverages (regular and low-calorie), and total fruit drinks and ades (not 100% juice; regular and low-calorie). Breastfeed Infants and children were excluded from the analysis. The total sample size of the study includes 10,648 individuals 50.5% of which are male and 49.5% female.  As far as cultural classification is concerned, there were 70% white, 15% black; and 17% of Hispanic origin). Descriptive statistics were calculated using SPSS (Version 10.1, 2000, SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). T-tests were used to compare the mean differences in the data.

Results

The study presented the mean daily beverage intake of different age groups. Based on AAP groupings, the average intake of 100% fruit juice was 0.9, 4.6, and 3.4 oz for children aged 6 months, 6 months to 6 years, and 7 to 18 years, respectively. Considering the recommended AAP levels for this type of beverage, the last two age groups are within 73% and 94%, respectively. For ages below 6 months, giving 100% fruit juice was not recommended but the result shows about 22% of the population surveyed consumed the beverage. Although it was not recommended for that age group there were no proven detrimental effects to the infants.

Trend analysis of the data showed that 100% fruit juice consumption is highest at 2 years, declines steadily, and plateaus around age 7 years. For other beverages consumption, fluid milk is consumed highest, about 2 cups/day, at age 1, but by age 18 it decreases to 3⁄4 cup/day. Carbonated drink consumption increases as children grow, with the highest increase by age 8.

            One important finding of the study was that based on the data the consumption of other beverages such as carbonated soft drinks and other fruit drinks and ads that contained artificial sweeteners and flavors was higher compared to the consumption of 100% fruit juice. The disparity even increases from 4 years onwards for other fruit drinks while 8 years onward for carbonated drinks. The consumption level of 100% fruit juice also increased within 94% of the AAP recommendation among older children. However, the increased consumption of carbonated beverages as children mature is an alarming trend as far as the nutrient requirements and the choice of beverage for children are concerned.

Conclusions

As far as the consumption of 100% fruit juice for infants below 6 months old is concerned, the authors suggested that although there was no conclusive evidence of adverse effects, it is always wise to restrict this age bracket to the consumption of pure liquid milk. It is the most accepted diet for infants. This recommendation is highly acceptable from a nutritional perspective. In terms of the consumption of 100% fruit juice in the higher age brackets, nutritionists are highly encouraged to formulate programs and take steps to balance the consumption of less nutrient-dense beverages such as soft drinks which are highly favored by adolescents. Their choices of these less healthy products may replace healthier alternatives and their nutrition suffers. The paper calls for health professionals and for that matter the government as well to conduct educational programs or another approach to substitute non-healthy drinks with healthier products.