Demographics, not beverage consumption, is associated with diet quality

Background Demographic characteristics and beverage choices may affect diet quality. Objective To estimate the independent associations between consumption of food categories of the US Department of Agriculture Food Guide Pyramid, beverage consumption, gender, age, family income, and race/ethnicity with the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Methods Data from the Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals 1994 - 96, 1998 were used to develop multiple regression models of demographics and food and beverage consumption regressed on the HEI. Results After adolescence (13 - 19 years), males consistently had a lower diet quality than females. Young adults (20 - 29 years) had the poorest diet quality. Family income had a positive association with the HEI. Controlling for income, African-Americans had lower HEI scores than other race/ethnicity groups. Caucasians consumed significantly more milk products than did the other race/ethnicity groups. Consumption of beverages had a weak but positive association with the HEI. Conclusions Family income and race/ethnicity have unique and independent associations with the HEI and dietary patterns.