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Dietary fat intake and body mass index in Spanish children^1,2,3,4

¹ From the Departamento de Pediatría and EU Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.

Our objectives were to describe the pattern of dietary fat intake and to present data on trends of growth in Spanish children in past decades. In 1984 a nationwide nutritional survey was conducted in Spain. The average nationwide fat intake was 42% of energy. Across different regions, saturated fat intakes ranged from 13% to 15% of energy and monounsaturated fat intakes ranged from 18% to 19% of energy. More recently, some surveys were conducted at a regional or local level. In children aged 6–10 y, total fat intake ranged from 38% to 48% of energy, of which saturated fat intake ranged from 16% to 18% and monounsaturated fat ranged from 19% to 20%. In children aged 11–14 y, total fat intake ranged from 41% to 51% of energy, of which saturated fat intake ranged from 12% to 18% and monounsaturated fat intake accounted for 20%. In our region of Aragón, we observed a significant trend in children's growth, especially when we accounted for body mass index. The results reflect an increasing total fat consumption in Spain, especially of saturated and monounsaturated fat. The following question remains unanswered: what percentage of fat intake should be recommended when monounsaturated fat is the principal source of fat? Trends on body mass index values in children of our region during the past decades could be related to the amount of fat intake in our population. To confirm these findings we must measure dietary fat intake and nutritional status in the same population of children and adolescents.

Key Words: Dietary fat • nutritional intake • dietary surveys • olive oil • growth • body mass index • obesity • vitamins • minerals • children • Spain • monounsaturated fat