Reading nutrition labels and fat consumption in adolescents

Accepted 4 February 2004.

Abstract

We studied the relationship between reading nutrition labels and percent calorie intake from fat. In adolescent boys, reading nutrition labels was associated with higher fat intake. In girls, fat intake did not differ by frequency of nutrition label reading. Nutrition label reading does not translate into healthier diet in adolescents.

Keywords: Nutrition label, Fat, Diet, Energy, Adolescent

a Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging and Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (T.T.-K.H.)

b Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA (H.K.)

c Quintiles Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, USA (K.S.M.)

d Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA (N.N., W.S.C., J.S.A.)

Address correspondence to: Dr. Terry T.-K. Huang, Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA HNRCA at Tufts University, 711 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA.

PII: S1054-139X(04)00070-9

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.02.005

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