Nutrient intake, body mass index, and socio-demographic characteristics of food-insufficient and food-sufficient children 3 to 11 years old

Food insufficiency and growth rate of obesity in children in the United States is of great concern. Low income children who are at greater risk for food insufficiency have been a primary focus of the obesity epidemic. The purpose of this study was to identify nutrient intake, body mass index (BMI), and socio-demographic characteristics of food insufficient and food sufficient children 3 to 11 years old. Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III) 1994–1996. Food assistance participation, region, poverty income ratio, race/ethnicity, household size, zinc, cholesterol, monounsaturated fatty acid, sample persons and doctors health impression were identified as statistically significant. The objectives of this study were to investigate and compare the relationships between BMI, nutrient intake, and socio-demographic characteristics of food insufficient and food sufficient children 3 to 11 years old.