Association of Weight Status With the Types and Quantities of Foods Consumed at Snacking Occasions Among US Adolescents

Abstract

ObjectivesUS adolescents with overweight (OW) and obesity (OB) consume larger and more frequent snacks (i.e., foods consumed between meals) than adolescents with normal weight (NW); but, the food group sources of these snacks by body weight status remains largely unknown. This research aimed to evaluate snack food group composition by weight status among US adolescents. MethodsCross-sectional analysis evaluated 10 USDA Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) components from snacking occasions using two, 24-hr dietary recalls among U.S. adolescents (n = 6,591;12–19 y) participating in the 2005–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Analysis of covariance was used to evaluate food intakes by weight status, adjusted for energy misreporting and other covariates. ResultsConsumption of added sugars, solid fats, and refined grains from snacks alone represented 64%, 38%, 32%, respectively, of recommended daily limits. Adolescents with OB consumed greater total daily energy from snacks (NW = 441(11)kcal; OW = 540(17)kcal; OB = 645(23)kcal, P < 0.05) and a greater percentage of total daily energy from snacks than adolescents with OW and NW (NW = 22%; OW = 24%; OB = 25%, P < 0.05). Adolescents with OB also consumed significantly higher amounts of refined grains, dairy, protein, oil, solid fat, and added sugar from snacks and total daily intake than adolescents with OW and NW (P < 0.05). ConclusionsUS adolescents consume one to two-thirds of recommended daily limits of added sugar, solid fats, and refined grains from snacks. Adolescents with OB consume higher levels of those and other food components from snacks than adolescents with OW and NW. Funding SourcesNational Institutes of Health; R21HD085137.