Mental health was measured using a shortened version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Dietary measures were self-reported servings of fruit, vegetables, 100 percent fruit juice, high sugar foods, soda/sweetened drinks, and French fries/fried potatoes consumed the previous day, as well as frequency of fast food consumed during the past week. Data from the 2007 and 2009 California Health Interview Surveys were used for children ages 5-11 years.

Of an estimated annual population of 3.7 million children, 180,000 (4.9 percent) had poor mental health. Children with poor mental health consumed more soda/sweetened drinks, French fries/fried potatoes, and fast food compared to children with good mental health. Mental health was not associated with other dietary measures. Adjusting for relevant socio-demographic characteristics, logistic regression found poor mental health to be significantly associated with any consumption of French fries/fried potatoes or vegetables on the previous day, and fast food two or more times in the past week. Interaction analysis revealed that an estimated 33 percent of girls with poor mental health consumed French fries, compared to 12 percent of girls with good mental health.

• Jim E. Banta
• et al