THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOL FOOD TO INFLUENCE A CHILD’S DIETARY INTAKE

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a common public health problem all over the world. Obesity is linked to negative health upshots such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and certain malignancies. Common causes of these health issues include physical inactivity, too much screen time, inadequate sleep and poor eating habits. The purpose of this study was to conduct a nutritional analysis of the dietary intakes of children aged between 4 and 11 years in Northern Ireland (NI) compared to the rest of the United Kingdom (UK). Data were collected from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme (NDNS RP). Information on the dietary intakes of children between 4 and 11 years was obtained from the NDNS website and subjected to data analysis. Independent sample t-tests and analysis of variance were used to compare the mean consumption of different nutrients and food groups between NI and the rest of the UK as well as across various ethnicities and socioeconomic standing. Least Significant Difference was used as post-hoc tests. There were significant differences in the consumption of energy (p=0.02), fibre (p=0.00), vitamins A (p=0.02), B6 (p=0.02), riboflavin (p=0.02) niacin (p=0.04), calcium (p=0.01), potassium (p=0.03), zinc (p=0.04), phosphorous (p=0.04), sodium (p=0.03), processed red meat (p=0.01) and total fruits and vegetable portions (p=0.00) between NI and the rest of the UK with NI reporting higher values for most of the nutrients. The impact of ethnicity on dietary intakes was also statistically significant for (p=0.00). Socioeconomic status also had an important influence on food habits with the consumption of macronutrients, micronutrients, fruits and vegetables, oily fish and processed red meat decreasing with a decline in the social or economic status. School caterers should consider supplementing menus with fibre- 6

rich foods, oily fish, fruits and vegetables to improve the availability of deficient nutrients. Parents should also shape their children’s eating habits