The raison d'etre of this website is to provide you with hard scientific information which may help you make informed decisions in your quest for health (so far I have blogged concise summaries of over 1,500 scientific studies and have had three books published).

My research is mainly focused on the effects of cholesterol, saturated fat and statin drugs on health. If you know anyone who is worried about their cholesterol levels and heart disease, or has been told to take statin drugs you could send them a link to this website, and to my statin or cholesterol or heart disease books.

David Evans

Independent Health Researcher

Tuesday 20 March 2012

As children eat less saturated fat and cholesterol - their obesity rates have soared

This study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000 Nov;72(5 Suppl):1343S-1353S

Study title and authors:
Energy and fat intakes of children and adolescents in the united states: data from the national health and nutrition examination surveys.
Troiano RP, Briefel RR, Carroll MD, Bialostosky K.
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-7344, USA. troiano@mail.nih.gov


This study analysed trends in energy and fat intake and obesity in 2-19 year olds.

Troiano notes that child obesity rates have risen dramatically from 1971 to 1994:
(i) From 1971 to 1994 obesity has risen by 75% in 4-5 year olds.
(ii) From 1971 to 1994 obesity has risen by 200% in 6-11 year old boys.
(iii) From 1971 to 1994 obesity has risen by 175% in 6-11 year old girls.
(iv) From 1971 to 1994 obesity has risen by 111% in 12-17 year old boys.
(v) From 1971 to 1994 obesity has risen by 54% in 12-17 year old girls.

In that same time period total calorie consumption has decreased across a majority of the age groups, and fat and cholesterol consumption has decreased in every age group:
(a) Total calorie intake decreased by 4% in 2-5 year olds.
(b) Total calorie intake decreased by 3.5% in 6-11 year olds.
(c) Total calorie intake increased by 4% in 12-19 year olds.
(d) Total fat consumption decreased by 3.4% in 2-5 year olds.
(e) Total fat consumption decreased by 2.6% in 6-11 year olds.
(f) Total fat consumption decreased by 3.1% in 12-19 year olds.
(g) Saturated fat consumption decreased by 1.3% in 2-5 year olds.
(h) Saturated fat consumption decreased by 1.4% in 6-11 year olds.
(i) Saturated fat consumption decreased by 1.9% in 12-19 year olds.
(j) Cholesterol consumption decreased by 64 mg in 2-5 year olds.
(k) Cholesterol consumption decreased by 51 mg in 6-11 year olds.
(l) Cholesterol consumption decreased by 129 mg in 12-19 year olds.

Other trends noted in the study from 1971 to 1994 include:
(m) An increase in non citrus juice and soft drink consumption.
(n) Soft drink consumption tripled in teenage boys.
(o) A decline in milk consumption.

In this time frame the incidence of diabetes has risen by 105%.

This study shows that over a 23 year period the consumption of total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol declined in children aged 2-19. This has coincided with a dramatic increase in the consumption of soft drinks and incidence of obesity and diabetes.