Abstract
Snacking is a significant contributor to energy intake among adolescents, but its association with weight status is unclear. To elucidate this association, data from 6545 adolescents (12–19 years) in the 2005–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed. The mean number of daily snack occasions, mean snack size, and mean snack energy density were examined by weight classification (body mass index (BMI)-for-age percentiles: normal weight (NW) <85th; overweight (OW) ≥85th to <95th; obese (OB) ≥95th). Models included all snacking parameters, mean meal size, demographic characteristics, survey cycle year, and dietary reporting accuracy. Adolescents with NW consumed fewer snacks daily (1.69 (0.02) snacks/day) and smaller snacks per occasion (262.32 (4.41) calories (kcal)/snack) compared to adolescents with OW (1.85 (0.05) snacks/day, p = 0.005; 305.41 (8.84) kcal/snack, p < 0.001), and OB (1.97 (0.05) snacks/day; 339.60 (10.12) kcal/snack, both p < 0.001). Adolescents with OW and OB also consumed more added sugar, saturated fat and sodium from snacks, but had lower mean energy density per snack compared to snacks consumed by NW adolescents. US adolescents with OW and OB consume more snacks daily and more calories at each snacking occasion compared to adolescents with NW. Future studies should examine the prospective associations between snacking and weight status and impact on overall diet quality.
Highlights
Snacking has significantly increased in the United States (US)over the past 30 years alongside rates of pediatric obesity [1,2]
US adolescents with OW and OB consume more snacks daily and more calories at each snacking occasion compared to adolescents with normal weight (NW)
The findings indicate that adolescents with OW and OB consume more snacks daily and more calories at each snacking occasion compared to adolescents who are classified as NW
Summary
Snacking (i.e., eating in between meals) has significantly increased in the United States (US)over the past 30 years alongside rates of pediatric obesity [1,2]. Current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adolescents consume nutrient-dense snacks to help them meet their nutritional needs [5]. Whether snacking currently benefits dietary intake and growth among adolescents or promotes obesity is unknown [6,7]. Given that adolescents have the highest prevalence of obesity among children, understanding the relationship between snacking and weight status in this population is critically important [2]. Adolescents with obesity are at increased risk of diet-related co-morbidities including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia as well as psychosocial consequences such as stress, stigma and depression [8,9]. Compared to other pediatric populations, adolescents with obesity are more likely to remain obese as adults, increasing their risk for additional morbidity and mortality [10,11]
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