Home and eating environments are associated with saturated fat intake in children in rural West Virginia.

Objective: To describe sociodemographic, environmental, and knowledge factors in relation to self-reported, energy-adjusted saturated fat consumption among children in rural West Virginia.

Participants: Three hundred twenty-five 5th graders who participated in the Coronary Artery Risk Detection in Appalachian Communities Project conducted in 3 rural counties in West Virginia in 1998-1999.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey based on self-reported information collected using a food frequency questionnaire, a nutrition knowledge questionnaire, and a family composition questionnaire.

Statistical Analyses: Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis.

Results: The mean percentage of energy from total fat was 31.8% +/- 4.9 and from saturated fat was 11.8% +/- 2.3. Energy-adjusted saturated fat intake was significantly higher among children with higher frequencies of breakfast and late-night snacks prepared away from home, and in households with single mothers. Variables associated with higher energy-adjusted saturated fat intake with marginal statistical significance (P=.05-.10) included attendance at schools with a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, usual breakfast location other than home or school, and less knowledge about low-fat, low-sodium foods. Frequent late-night snacks prepared away from home and living with single mothers remained as significant correlates of energy-adjusted saturated fat intake independent of other hypothesized determinants.

Conclusion: Efforts to reduce saturated fat intake among children in rural areas should focus on food prepared away from home. Nutrition-related behaviors of single mothers should be explored further.