02.04.10
National survey data published in this month’s issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association indicate few adolescents or young adults consume whole grains in the amount recommended to prevent chronic disease and maintain a healthful weight. In order to address the gap in consumption, researchers conducted a study to find out which factors influence whole-grain intake among adolescents and young adults.
Data for this cross-sectional analysis were drawn from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens)-II, the second wave of a population-based study in Minnesota. Mailed surveys and food frequency questionnaires were completed by male (45%) and female (55%) participants in 2003-2004, including 792 adolescents (mean age=17.2 years) and 1686 young adults (mean age=20.5 years).
Researchers found that the daily intake of whole grains was lower than recommended among adolescents and young adults. They also discovered what’s holding them back in terms of consumption: availability of whole-grain bread, self-efficacy to consume ≥3 daily servings of whole grains, and preference for the taste of whole-grain bread. At the same time, researchers found that fast-food intake was associated with lower intake of whole grains among adolescents and young adults of both sexes. The factors examined in this study explained 28% to 34% of variance in whole-grain intake across sex and the two age groups.
These findings, researchers believe, suggest nutrition interventions should address the availability of whole-grain foods in homes and restaurants. Further, they said young people should be provided with opportunities to taste a variety of whole-grain foods to enhance taste preferences and self-efficacy to consume whole-grain products.
