Our commitment: Build knowledge leadership in children’s nutrition
We seek to develop a deeper understanding of the actual dietary intake, lifestyle and health status of children through our large-scale research projects. The results of our studies help define our product formulation, consumer communication and educational programmes.
By 2016: Launch large-scale research projects in at least 10 countries across the globe, including the United States, Mexico, China and Russia to expand understanding of children’s nutrition and inform our own product and service development.
We support research for two age groups. The Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) investigates the eating patterns and nutritional intake of infants and toddlers from birth to four years old and the Kids Nutrition and Health Study (KNHS) focuses on children from four to 12 years old. Many dietary and activity habits are formed at this age, and KNHS explores the food and nutrient intakes of children related to lifestyle and behaviour patterns.
Initially conducted in the United States in 2002 and 2008, FITS was then launched in China – as the Maternal Infant Nutrition Growth study (MING) – and Mexico, while a new study in the United States began in 2015. In 2016, we are preparing to conduct further FITS studies, including in Russia and the Philippines. The KNHS was initiated in the US in 2014. Studies in Mexico, China and Australia were started in 2015.
We published two papers on diets and nutrient adequacy in Chinese school-aged children, and one evaluating the impact of number of meals and snacks on energy intake in Mexican children. A review article explored parenting and feeding styles in relation to risk for overweight and obesity in children 4–12 years of age.