Socio‐demographic differences in fat and sugar consumption patterns among Finnish adolescents

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Abstract
A representative sample (response rate 83%) of 3734 Finnish adolescents was surveyed on health habits by a mailed questionnaire in 1983. Questions included use of different milk types, butter, margarine, sweet pastry, coffee sugar, coffee, sweetened yogurt, candies and soft drinks. Food consumption patterns were analysed by age, sex, place of residence (rural/urban) and father's occupation and education using logistic regression analysis. Father's socio‐ecnomic status (SES) had a strong effect on the use of margarine, butter, high and low fat milks, and sweet pastry; age affected coffee, sweets and sweetened yoghurt; and sex affected coffee sugar and soft drinks. Children of farmers and lower socio‐ecnomic groups used high‐fat milk, butter and sweet pastry more often than those of white‐collar families. SES effect was stronger among the younger age groups. Coffee and soft drink usage increased by age, sweetened yogurt decreased, whereas use of candies was highest around age 15. Girls, especially in the older age groups, used less coffee sugar and soft drinks than boys. The SES effect on the use of foods consumed daily in Finnish homes was strong, whereas those adolescents buy outside home was independent of family background, indicating multidimensionality of food consumption and distinctions between adolescent and adult life styles.