| This analysis examines differences
in the proportion of children ages one to five whose
intakes of key nutrients are substantially below
the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs). Intakes
of all 16 nutrients covered by the 1986 Nationwide
Food Consumption Survey and Continuing Survey of
Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) are analyzed
using data published by USDA. This nationally representative
household survey consists of two main subsamples:
an overall sample drawing households from all income
levels, and a low-income subsample. This analysis
uses data from both the overall sample and the low-income
subsample, and reveals that a significantly high
proportion of poor children suffer from deficient
dietary intakes. Compared to non-poor children ages
one to five, the diets of poor children are seriously
compromised in 10 of 16 major nutrients analyzed.
Millions of poor American children have significantly
inadequate dietary intakes. Moreover, these outcomes
confirm that mild to moderate undernutrition is
directly associated with insufficient household
income.
Highlights:
- Millions of poor children
have substandard intakes of important major
nutrients.
- Analysis of government
data reveals major differences in the intakes
of poor and non-poor children for 10 out of
16 nutrients (food
energy-calories, folate, iron, magnesium, thiamin,
vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E,
and zinc).
- Between one to four
million poor children have substandard intakes
of several major nutrients analyzed (food energy,
folate, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, and
zinc).
- The proportion of poor
children with substandard intakes of food energy
is more than two-and-a-half times that of non-poor
children.
- The proportion of poor
children with substandard intakes of some nutrients
(e.g., vitamin A and magnesium) is nearly six
times that of non-poor children.
- The proportion of poor
children with substandard intakes of zinc is
over 50%, for iron it is over 40%, and for vitamin
E it is over 33%.
- The extent of substandard
intake of nutrients among millions of poor youngsters
corresponds with independent data on widespread
hunger among the nation's poor children.
The data released in this
new analysis provide further evidence that many
children already are exposed to developmental damage
associated with hunger. To weaken the very programs
capable of helping them is insupportable not only
theoretically, but also scientifically. These new
findings bolster scientific evidence showing that
a nation that fails its own children may be jeopardizing
its future. |
