Diet quality of children 2-17 years, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index-2005, differs by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and family income

Introduction: Diet quality plays a role in the prevalence of overweight/obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes in children. This study examined the diet quality of children (2-17 y), using the Healthy Eating Index-2005. Methods: Dietary recalls from 3,286 participants in the 2003-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed using SAS and SUDAAN. Mean percentages of maximum scores were calculated and tested for significant differences (p < 0.05). Results: Total Grains (TG) was the only component for which the maximum score was met by all groups of children. Scores were the closest to goals for Milk (87%) and Meat and Beans (81%). Scores were lowest for Dark Green and Orange Vegetables and Legumes (DGOVL) (12%) and Whole Grains (WG) (15%). Children 2-5 y had higher scores than 6-11 y and 12-17 y for Total Fruit (TF) (100% versus 58% and 50%), Whole Fruit (WF) (86% versus 55% and 44%), Milk (100% versus 87% and 77%), and Extra Calories (47% versus 39% and 40%). Girls had higher scores than boys for TF (71%, 59%), WF (64%, 51%) and Total Vegetables (TV) (49%, 45%). Hispanics had higher scores than Whites and Blacks for DGOVL (20% versus 10% and 12%) and Sodium (51% versus 44% and 39%). Children in the lowest of four income groups had higher scores than the highest income group for TV (49%, 38%), DGOVL (15%, 8%), and Sodium (48%, 40%). Discussion: The Healthy Eating Index-2005 is a useful tool for describing disparities in diet quality among children.