Sociodemographic correlates of overall quality of dietary intake of US adolescents

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between selected sociodemographic variables and overall quality of dietary intake of US adolescents. The Healthy Eating Index, an instrument designed to measure adherence to the US Dietary Guidelines, was used to measure overall quality of dietary intake. Healthy Eating Index scores were computed for a sample of US adolescents (N = 1504) who participated in the 1994-1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. A proportional odds model for an ordered polytomous response was used to assess the relationships between adolescent Healthy Eating Index scores and selected sociodemographic factors. The sociodemographic factors found to be significantly related to overall quality of dietary intake of US adolescents were age, ethnicity, urbanization, region of residence, and education level of household head. The findings of this study suggest that nutrition research and intervention programs relating to US adolescents should include evaluation of sociodemographic/environmental factors.