What influences adolescent food intakes?

One-day dietary records were obtained from 1055 boys and girls, a representative sample of high-school students (ages 11-16 years) in Tasmania, Australia. This study reports the impacts of a variety of physical, behavioural and social characteristics on average (median) intakes of 15 food categories. Influences varied markedly between food categories, and between boys and girls. Among the influences noted were: girls consumed less milk, potatoes, cakes and desserts with increasing fatness; boys consumed more red meats and confectionery with increasing alcohol usage; use of vitamin supplements was associated with higher milk intake among girls, and higher intakes of green vegetables among boys; citrus and berry fruit intakes increased with social status in both sexes; boys at catholic schools ate more bread, cakes and desserts.