Editorial

The inclusion of four papers on dietary intakes in

children in this issue of the journal adds to the

welcome increase in data on this subject. Until

recently, there was a dearth of large-scale studies on

children. Such studies are invaluable for a number

of reasons: quantitative studies form the basis of

recommendations for reference nutrient intakes,

whilst qualitative data indicate where nutrition

messages should be targeted and monitor the degree

to which education has been successful in changing

habits. Both types of data can be used as part of

extended longitudinal studies which examine the

effect of early diet on long-term health outcomes.

Large national studies such as the British

National Diet and Nutrition Survey of children

aged 1�]4� years (Gregory et al., 1995) and the

forthcoming national survey of young schoolchil-

dren (due for publication later this year) act as

benchmarks for dietary intakes, but because of their

scale and complexity can only be carried out

relatively infrequently. Additional studies provide

current updates, and can highlight differences

between local situations and the national one. Such

data are important when formulating local health

education policies.

Dietary intake studies which are linked to

measured outcomes, such as blood values or growth

measurements, are particularly useful when recom-

mendations for Dietary Reference Values (DRV) are

assessed. Many recommendations for nutrient

intakes for infants and children in the most recent

DRV document (Department of Health, 1991) have

been extrapolated from data collected on adults, as

there were no suitable data available for children.

The ALSPAC study on children's food habits

reported in this issue by Cowin & Emmett links a

prevalence of low haemoglobin values with a

median dietary iron intake in the study group

which was less than the Estimated Average Require-

ment. Plans to examine links between the low intake

of zinc found in the study and growth will provide

useful data when recommendations for zinc re-

quirements are reconsidered.

Prominent public health nutrition issues in

children presently include iron deficiency and the

increasing prevalence of obesity in childhood. Two

studies in this issue (de la Hunty et al. and North

et al.) present findings on the eating and drinking

habits of infants and young children which reveal

that health education messages about appropriate

milks for babies are not reaching younger mothers,

those with less education, those from lower social

classes and poor families. Nutrition education

messages need to be particularly targeted at these

sectors of the population in order to be effective.

The paper from Bellisle et al. describes a longi-

tudinal study which highlights trends in the eating

habits of French schoolchildren. It is interesting to

note that traditional eating patterns are largely

retained in France, whose inhabitants have not yet

gone over to the more usual `grazing' pattern of

English children, although they too express a

preference for sugary and fried foods. The study,

which also includes information on activity levels,

shows a link between a sedentary lifestyle and an

increased risk of obesity in children. A trend

towards increases in activity and a decrease in

energy intake over the course of the study perhaps

indicates that the message about a healthy lifestyle is

getting through there.

The importance of early nutrition as a risk factor

for disease in later life is now generally accepted

(Barker, 1996). Most of the work on the subject has

been carried out retrospectively. Longitudinal

ã Blackwell Science Ltd 2000 J Hum Nutr Dietet, 13, pp. 69]70 69

projects such as the ALSPAC study will enable

much more rigorous prospective data to be

collected on the long-term effects of diet, thus

enabling policy makers and healthcare professionals

to ensure the best possible future for tomorrow's

adults.

References

Barker, D.J.P. (1996) The origins of coronary heart disease in

early life. In Long-term Consequences of Early Environment.

Growth, Development and the Lifespan Developmental

Perspective. edsC. J. K. Henry & S. J. Ulijaszek. Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press.

Department of Health. (1991) Report on Health and Social

Subjects 41. Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and

Nutrients for the United Kingdom. London: HMSO.

Gregory, J.R., Collins, D.L., Davies, P.S.W., Hughes, J.M. &

Clarke, P.C. (1995) National Diet and Nutrition Survey of

Children Aged 1� ] 4� Years. London: The Stationery

Office.

Margaret Lawson

Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Nutrition,

Childhood Nutrition Research Centre,

Institute of Child Health,

30 Guilford Street,

London WC1N 1EH, UK

70 Editorial

ã Blackwell Science Ltd 2000 J Hum Nutr Dietet, 13, pp. 69]70