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Associations between language spoken at home and nutrient intake among Asian children in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Conference poster   Peer reviewed

Associations between language spoken at home and nutrient intake among Asian children in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Maria Elena Acosta, Emma V. Sanchez-Vaznaugh, Colin Williams Younger and Brisa N. Sanchez
Annals of behavioral medicine, v 60(Supplement_1), pp S590-S590
01 Apr 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaag012#page=S590

Abstract

Nutrition Minority Health
Introduction: Asian American populations are at a higher risk for diet related illness due to factors including dietary habits, cultural background and migration patterns; yet national studies involving Asian children remain scarce. Methods: To examine associations between language spoken at home (categorized as mostly English, both languages equally, and mostly other language) and nutrient intake among Non-Hispanic Asian children 5-18 years old, we used data from the 2011-2012 to 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and linear regression models using the following continuous dietary outcomes: fiber, protein, whole grains, legumes, total fats, saturated fats, total sugar, added sugar, sodium and cholesterol. The models controlled for survey wave, age, sex, income-to-poverty ratio, education of the main caregiver, and caloric intake. Results: The analytic sample included 860 children. Those who reported speaking both languages and mostly other language had higher intake of fiber, compared to those who reported speaking mostly English at home. Compared to children who speak mostly English, children who spoke both languages showed lower intake of whole grains and legumes but children who spoke mostly other language at home showed higher intake; findings were significant only for legumes (P<.05). Relative to those who reported speaking mostly English, protein intake was higher for children who spoke both languages equally and lower for those who spoke mostly a non-English language; these findings were non-significant. Children who reported speaking both languages equally showed lower intakes of total fat (P=0.03), saturated fats (P=0.01), sugar (P=0.47), added sugar(P=0.05), and cholesterol (P=0.91), compared to those who spoke mostly English at home. Similar patterns were seen among children who reported speaking mostly a non-English language at home. For children who spoke both languages, sodium intake was higher, and those who spoke mostly other language had lower sodium intake, compared to those who mostly spoke English at home. Conclusion: Children who reported mostly other language spoken at home appear to have favorable nutrient intakes relative to those who report speaking mostly English. Research is needed involving greater sample sizes to more fully understand these associations. To improve diet among all children, interventions require taking into account languages spoken at home.

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