Snacking characteristics and patterns and their associations with diet quality and BMI in the Childhood Obesity Prevention and Treatment Research Consortium

Madison N. Lecroy, Kimberly P. Truesdale, Donna M. Matheson, Sharon M. Karp, Shirley M. Moore, Thomas N. Robinson, Jerica M. Berge, Holly L. Nicastro, Alicia J. Thomas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe snacking characteristics and patterns in children and examine associations with diet quality and BMI.

DESIGN: Children's weight and height were measured. Participants/adult proxies completed multiple 24 h dietary recalls. Snack occasions were self-identified. Snack patterns were derived for each sample using exploratory factor analysis. Associations of snacking characteristics and patterns with Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) score and BMI were examined using multivariable linear regression models.

SETTING: Childhood Obesity Prevention and Treatment Research (COPTR) Consortium, USA: NET-Works, GROW, GOALS and IMPACT studies.

PARTICIPANTS: Predominantly low-income, racial/ethnic minorities: NET-Works (n 534, 2-4-year-olds); GROW (n 610, 3-5-year-olds); GOALS (n 241, 7-11-year-olds); IMPACT (n 360, 10-13-year-olds).

RESULTS: Two snack patterns were derived for three studies: a meal-like pattern and a beverage pattern. The IMPACT study had a similar meal-like pattern and a dairy/grains pattern. A positive association was observed between meal-like pattern adherence and HEI-2010 score (P for trend < 0⋅01) and snack occasion frequency and HEI-2010 score (β coefficient (95 % CI): NET-Works, 0⋅14 (0⋅04, 0⋅23); GROW, 0⋅12 (0⋅02, 0⋅21)) among younger children. A preference for snacking while using a screen was inversely associated with HEI-2010 score in all studies except IMPACT (β coefficient (95 % CI): NET-Works, -3⋅15 (-5⋅37, -0⋅92); GROW, -2⋅44 (-4⋅27, -0⋅61); GOALS, -5⋅80 (-8⋅74, -2⋅86)). Associations with BMI were almost all null.

CONCLUSIONS: Meal-like and beverage patterns described most children's snack intake, although patterns for non-Hispanic Blacks or adolescents may differ. Diets of 2-5-year-olds may benefit from frequent meal-like pattern snack consumption and diets of all children may benefit from decreasing screen use during eating occasions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3189-3199
Number of pages11
JournalPublic health nutrition
Volume22
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Authors 2019.

Keywords

  • Child diet
  • Childhood obesity
  • Dietary pattern
  • Screen use
  • Snack
  • USA

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article

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