The Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study 2008: study design and methods.

OBJECTIVE Describe the study design, data collection methods, 24-hour dietary recall protocol, and sample characteristics of the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) 2008. DESIGN A cross-sectional study designed to obtain information on the diets and feeding patterns of US infants, toddlers, and preschoolers ages birth to 47 months. Telephone interviews with parents and caregivers were conducted from June 2008 through January 2009 and included a household interview to recruit the household and collect information on household and child demographics and nutrition-related characteristics, and a dietary interview, including a 24-hour dietary recall collected using the 2008 Nutrition Data System for Research. A second dietary recall was collected on a random subsample to estimate usual nutrient intake distributions. Data collection instruments were built on those used in FITS 2002, with expanded survey content to address emerging issues in childhood nutrition and obesity. The dietary protocol was improved to increase reporting accuracy on portion sizes, and a bridging study was conducted to test effects of the changes in the food model booklet and protocol since FITS 2002 (n=240 cases aged 4 to 23 months). SUBJECTS A national random sample of 3,273 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers from birth up to age 4 years, with 2 days of dietary intake data for 701 cases. RESULTS Among sampled households with an age-eligible child, the response rate was 60% for the recruitment interview. Of recruited households, the response rate for the dietary interview was 78%. CONCLUSIONS The FITS 2008 provides rigorous, well-tested methods and survey questions for nutrition researchers to use in other dietary studies of young children. FITS 2008 findings on the food and nutrient intakes of US children from birth up to age 4 years can inform dietetics practitioners, pediatric health practitioners, and policymakers about the dietary issues of young children.

[1]  J. Dwyer,et al.  The Start Healthy Feeding Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers. , 2004, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[2]  E. Singer NONRESPONSE BIAS IN HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS , 2006 .

[3]  E. Myers,et al.  Development of the Start Healthy Feeding Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers. , 2004, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[4]  Stanley Presser,et al.  Changes in Telephone Survey Nonresponse over the Past Quarter Century , 2005 .

[5]  Clifford L Johnson,et al.  Secular trends in dietary intake in the United States. , 2004, Annual review of nutrition.

[6]  M. Fox,et al.  Feeding infants and toddlers study: What foods are infants and toddlers eating? , 2004, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[7]  R. Briefel,et al.  Feeding infants and toddlers study: overview of the study design. , 2004, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[8]  P. Hartmann,et al.  Breast Volume and Milk Production During Extended Lactation in Women , 1999, Experimental physiology.

[9]  Eleanor Singer,et al.  Introduction Nonresponse Bias in Household Surveys , 2006 .

[10]  Leann L. Birch,et al.  Eating Behaviors of the Young Child , 2007 .

[11]  A. Siega-Riz,et al.  Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study 2008: progress, continuing concerns, and implications. , 2010, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[12]  Edgar Chambers,et al.  Accuracy of reporting dietary intake using various portion-size aids in-person and via telephone. , 2004, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[13]  Marilyn S Nanney,et al.  Schools and obesity prevention: creating school environments and policies to promote healthy eating and physical activity. , 2009, The Milbank quarterly.

[14]  S. Kannan Eating Behaviors of the Young Child: Prenatal and Postnatal Influences on Healthy Eating , 2011 .

[15]  R. Kleinman,et al.  Pediatric Nutrition Handbook , 2003 .

[16]  A. Carriquiry Estimation of usual intake distributions of nutrients and foods. , 2003, The Journal of nutrition.

[17]  Catharyn T. Liverman,et al.  Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance , 2005 .

[18]  K. Dewey,et al.  Milk and Nutrient Intake of Breast‐Fed Infants from 1 to 6 Months: Relation to Growth and Fatness , 1983, Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition.

[19]  J. Martin,et al.  Births: preliminary data for 2005. , 2006, National vital statistics reports : from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System.

[20]  R. Briefel,et al.  Food consumption patterns of young preschoolers: are they starting off on the right path? , 2010, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[21]  A. Siega-Riz,et al.  Nutrient intakes of US infants, toddlers, and preschoolers meet or exceed dietary reference intakes. , 2010, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[22]  A. Siega-Riz,et al.  Food consumption patterns of infants and toddlers: where are we now? , 2010, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[23]  R. Briefel,et al.  Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS): development of the FITS survey in comparison to other dietary survey methods. , 2006, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[24]  N. Butte,et al.  Overestimation of infant and toddler energy intake by 24-h recall compared with weighed food records. , 2008, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[25]  Mary Y. Hama,et al.  Weekend eating in the United States is linked with greater energy, fat, and alcohol intake. , 2003, Obesity research.

[26]  K. Dewey,et al.  Breast milk volume and composition during late lactation (7-20 months). , 1984, Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition.