Tracking of dietary patterns from childhood to adolescence.

OBJECTIVE To review the scientific literature on the tracking of dietary patterns from childhood to adolescence. METHODS A search of the MEDLINE/PubMed, Lilacs and SciELO databases was performed, using the following key words: "tracking", "dietary patterns" and "childhood/adolescence" and their respective synonyms. A total of 45 abstracts were found and, after the inclusion criteria were applied, 13 articles were included. The tracking of dietary patterns was assessed by three main statistical analyses: (Pearson or Spearman) correlation coefficients, kappa coefficient and probability analysis. RESULTS The tracking of dietary patterns ranged from weak to moderate between the childhood-childhood and childhood-adolescence periods. During adolescence, there appears to be no tracking. CONCLUSIONS Dietary patterns in childhood may continue until adolescence, although such patterns may be changed or discontinued throughout adolescence.