Table 4.

AIC Values for Three Methods of Representing Longitudinal Beverage Intake Data in the Iowa Fluoride Study (n = 344)

Method*	# Dietary parameters estimated (k)	−2log (likelihood)	AIC	Difference from minimum AIC	Level of empirical support for method compared to lowest AIC model
Method 1	8	729.0	745.0	0.0	–
Method 2	16	718.6	750.6	5.6	Less support
Method 3	24	714.3	762.3	17.3	Substantially less support

^*Method 1 represents beverage intake variables through an average of questionnaires between 9.0 and 17.0 years of age; Method 2 represents beverage intake variables through questionnaires around 9 and the change of beverage intake between 9 and 13 years of age; Method 3 represents beverage intake variables through three specific time points around 9, 13, and 17 years of age.