National dietary surveys

Since 1993, the Department of Nutrition at University of Oslo in collaboration with the Directorate for Health and the Public Health Institute, has conducted several national dietary surveys to measure intake of food and beverages in representative samples of the population.

As shown in the table below, there has been national dietary surveys among adults (Norkost), children and adolescents (Ungkost), and infants and toddlers (Sped-og Småbarnskost). The dietary surveys have used various dietary assessment methods like food frequency questionnaire, food diary and 24-hour recall.

The purpose of the surveys are to describe the diet and to study relations between dietary habits, socio-demographic variables and other health related habits. In later years, the environmental footprint of the diets can also be calculated.

The participants' intake of food, energy, and nutrients have been calculated using an internal dietary assessment system (KBS) developed at the Department of Nutrition. The KBS database has lately been expanded to also include information about environmental indicators of the food and beverages, like CO2-ekvivalents, acidification, eutrophication, water use and land use.

All surveys have been a collaboration between the Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, the Norwegian Directorate of Health (and since 2016 the Norwegian Institute of Public Health).

The national dietary surveys have been an important basis for public health assessments, nutritional policy and governmental white papers. Moreover, the national dietary surveys have contributed to several PhDs, research papers and master thesis.

 

Table: National dietary surveys among representative samples of the population in various age groups in Norway

Norkost: Dietary surveys among adults

Norkost 4 is the fourth national dietary survey among adults and is ongoing. Data collection was finished in December 2023, and a report from the survey will be launched in December 2024.

Norkost 3 was conducted in 2010-11. A report with results has been published (in Norwegian).

Norkost 2 was conducted in 1997. A report with results has been published (in Norwegian).

Norkost 1 was conducted in 1993-94. The report (in Norwegian) is available from the National Library.

 

Selected publications

Based on data from the Norkost 3 survey, a PhD project aiming to study how different meals are associated with intakes of specific food groups and nutrients among adult Norwegians was conducted: Meal types as sources of foods and nutrients in an adult Norwegian population. This PhD resulted in the following papers:

Several other papers have also been published based on the Norkost 3 study, and a selection is presented below:

 

Ungkost: Dietary surveys among children and adolescents

Ungkost 3 was conducted in 2015-16. The dietary intake among 4 year olds and the dietary intake among 9- and 13- year olds were presented in two separate reports (in Norwegian).

Ungkost 2 was conducted in year 2000. The dietary intake among 4 year olds and the dietary intake among 9- and 13- year olds were presented in two separate reports (in Norwegian).

Ungkost 1 was conducted in 1993 among 13 and 18 year olds. The report (in Norwegian) is available from the National Library.

 

Selected publications

Below are some selected papers originated from the Ungkost 3 study.

 

Spedkost and Småbarnskost: Dietary surveys among infants and toddlers

The most recent dietary survey among infants and toddlers (Spedkost 3 and Småbarnskost 3) was conducted in 2018-20. Results from the studies are presented as separate reports for the three age groups: infants at 6 months of age, infants at 12 months of age and 2-year olds. All reports are in Norwegian.

Spedkost 2 and Småbarnskost 2 was conducted in 2006-07. Dietary intake among infants at 6 months of age, infants at 12 months of age and children of 2 years of age are presented in separate reports (in Norwegian).

Spedkost 1 and Småbarnskost 1 was conducted in 1998-99. Dietary intake among infants at 6 months of age, infants at 12 months of age and children of 2 years of age are presented in separate reports (in Norwegian).

 

Selected publications

Based on data from the Spedkost and Småbarnskost surveys, so far two PhD projects have been completed. The first PhD (“Infant feeding practices in Norway”) used data from the Spedkost 1 survey, while the second PhD (“Infant feeding practices and dietary patterns in early childhood in Norway”) used data from the Spedkost 2 and Småbarnskost 2. Moreover, based on data from the Spedkost 3 and Småbarnskost 3 surveys, a PhD project aiming to explore how to compose a diet which is both environmental sustainable and healthy has so far resulted in two published papers:

Below are some selected papers and master thesis based on data from the Sped- and Småbarnskost studies:

 
Published Aug. 20, 2012 11:28 AM - Last modified Jan. 5, 2024 1:44 PM