Prevalence of inadequate hydration among US children and disparities by gender and race/ethnicity: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009-2012

E.L. Kenney, M.W. Long, A.L. Cradock and S.L. Gortmaker

American Journal of Public Health, 2015, vol. 105, issue 8, e113-e118

Abstract: Objectives. We evaluated the hydration status of US children and adolescents. Methods. The sample included 4134 participants aged 6 to 19 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2012. We calculated mean urine osmolality and the proportion with inadequate hydration (urine osmolality > 800 mOsm/kg). We calculated multivariable regression models to estimate the associations between demographic factors, beverage intake, and hydration status. Results. The prevalence of inadequate hydration was 54.5%. Significantly higher urine osmolality was observed among boys (+92.0 mOsm/kg; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 69.5, 114.6), non-Hispanic Blacks (+67.6 mOsm/kg; 95% CI = 31.5, 103.6), and younger children (+28.5 mOsm/kg; 95% CI = 8.1, 48.9) compared with girls, Whites, and older children, respectively. Boys (OR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.49, 2.07) and non-Hispanic Blacks (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.74) were also at significantly higher risk for inadequate hydration. An 8-fluid-ounce daily increase in water intake was associated with a significantly lower risk of inadequate hydration (OR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.93, 0.98). Conclusions. Future research should explore drivers of gender and racial/ethnic disparities and solutions for improving hydration status. © 2015, American Public Health Association Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: adolescent; age; ancestry group; child; dehydration; ethnic group; female; health disparity; human; male; nutrition; osmolarity; prevalence; sex difference; statistics and numerical data; United States; urine; young adult, Adolescent; Age Factors; Child; Continental Population Groups; Dehydration; Ethnic Groups; Female; Health Status Disparities; Humans; Male; Nutrition Surveys; Osmolar Concentration; Prevalence; Sex Factors; United States; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2015.302572_9

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302572

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