EsKiMo - the nutrition module in the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS)

In a module of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS),the dietary behaviour of 6-17-year-olds was assessed from January to December 2006. The study, named EsKiMo (Eating Study as a KiGGS Module), was performed by the Robert Koch Institute together with the division of nutrition and consumer education at the University of Paderborn. It was funded by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. Parents of participants younger than 12 years were asked to conduct a 3-day dietary record. Participants of 12 years and older were personally interviewed about their eating behaviour during the last four weeks using DISHES (Dietary Interview Software for Health Examination Studies). In addition, they were asked to fill in the KiGGS food frequency questionnaire a second time. Furthermore, all participants were asked about their socio-demographic background, leisure time activities, supplement use, meals at school, body weight and height. The study will provide up-to-date, representative data on the nutrition of children and adolescents in Germany. The analyses will include the amounts of foods and food groups consumed as well as the nutrient intake. By connecting these nutrition data with other health data from KiGGS, comprehensive analyses of relationships between nutrition and health are possible.