@article{01JN60B9E172AY691DJA8SNHWC,
  abstract     = {{This study assessed the dietary intake of European children by country, gender, and obesity degree across six European countries participating in the Feel4Diabetes study. It also compared food group intakes with European food-based dietary guidelines. The Feel4Diabetes study included 9,847 children (50.4% girls) from six European countries. Families provided baseline data on energy balance-related behaviors and socioeconomic factors via questionnaires. Children's dietary intake and breakfast consumption were assessed using semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires, and anthropometric measurements were taken. Intake from 11 food groups was analyzed by country, gender, and obesity degree. Chi-square analyses compared food intake with dietary guidelines. "Nutrient-dense " foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, whole grains) and "energy-dense, low-nutrient" foods (e.g., high in added sugars, saturated fats) were categorized based on the European food-based guideline. Over 85% of children consumed breakfast 5-7 days a week, with no significant differences by Body Mass Index (BMI) or country. Mean intakes of nutrient-dense food groups fell below recommendations, while the intake of energy-dense, low-nutrient foods exceeded limits, particularly in children with overweight/obesity (p = 0.048). No significant gender differences were observed in most food groups.Conclusions: Dietary intake varied by country and obesity degree among European children. Across the six countries, children's diets did not align with food-based dietary guidelines. These findings underscore the need for interventions promoting healthier eating habits among European children.Trial registration: The Feel4Diabetes-study is registered with the clinical trials registry (NCT02393872), http://clinicaltrials.govWhat is Known:center dot Childhood obesity is a growing concern across Europe, with some variations in food consumption observed between European countries center dot Previous studies have highlighted the role of diet in childhood obesity, but few have examined cross-country comparisons while accounting for gender and BMI status.What is New:center dot This study provides a comprehensive cross-country analysis of children's dietary intake, considering gender, BMI status, and adherence to European dietary guidelines.center dot New insights into gender differences in sweets consumption and the positive association between BMI and food intake (such as soft drinks and sweets) are presented, which can inform targeted dietary interventions.}},
  articleno    = {{214}},
  author       = {{Mahmood, Lubna and Moreno, Luis A. and Schwarz, Peter and Willems, Ruben and Cardon, Greet and Hilal, Soukaina and Rurik, Imre and Iotova, Violeta and Bazdarska, Yuliya and Dimova, Roumyana and Anastasiou, Kostas and Manios, Yannis and Gonzalez-Gil, Esther M. and Civeira, Fernando and Bueno, Gloria and De Miguel-Etayo, Pilar and Miguel-Berges, María L. and Giménez-Legarre, Natalia and Flores-Barrantes, Paloma and Ayala-Marín, Aleli M. and Seral-Cortés, Miguel and Baila-Rueda, Lucia and Cenarro, Ana and Jarauta, Estíbaliz and Mateo-Gallego, Rocío and Timpel, Patrick and Ungvari, Timea and Jancsó, Zoltán and Nánási, Anna and Kolozsvári, László and Semánova, Csilla and Bíró, Éva and Antal, Emese and Radó, Sándorné and Martinez, Remberto and Tong, Marcos and Tankova, Tsvetalina and Usheva, Natalia and Tsochev, Kaloyan and Chakarova, Nevena and Galcheva, Sonya and Bachata, Yana and Radkova, Zhaneta and Marinova, Vanya and Stefanova, Tanya and Karatzi, Kalliopi and Androutsos, Odysseas and Moschonis, George and Kanellakis, Spyridon and Mavrogianni, Christina and Tsoutsoulopoulou, Konstantina and Katsarou, Christina and Karaglani, Eva and Qira, Irini and Skoufas, Efstathios and Maragkopoulou, Konstantina and Tsiafitsa, Antigone and Sotiropoulou, Irini and Tsolakos, Michalis and Argyri, Effie and Nikolaou, Mary and Vampouli, Eleni-Anna and Filippou, Christina and Apergi, Kyriaki and Filippou, Amalia and Katerina, Gatsiou and Dimitriadis, Efstratios and Makrilakis, Konstantinos and Liatis, Stavros and Dafoulas, George and Lambrinou, Christina-Paulina and Giannopoulou, Angeliki and Lindström, Jaana and Laatikainen, Tiina and Wikström, Katja and Kivelä, Jemina and Valve, Päivi and Levälahti, Esko and Virtanen, Eeva and Pennanen, Tiina and lli, Seija and Nelimarkka, Karoliina and Ko, Winne and Karuranga, Ernest and Van Stappen, Vicky and Huys, Nele and Annemans, Lieven and Shadid, Samiah and on behalf of the Feel4Diabetes-Study Group, [missing]}},
  issn         = {{0340-6199}},
  journal      = {{EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS}},
  keywords     = {{obesity,diabetes,diet,Children,Dietary intake,Food frequency,Obesity,Europe,CONSUMPTION,ADOLESCENTS,FRUIT,FOOD}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{12}},
  title        = {{A snapshot of country-specific dietary habits and obesity in European children : the Feel4Diabetes study}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-025-06037-4}},
  volume       = {{184}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}

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