Increased chewing gum consumption is inversely related to waist circumference in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999–2002

Abstract

Emerging research suggests that chewing gum may be related to benefits beyond oral health, specifically in weight management. Recent consumer research by NPD Group shows chewing gum to be the number one snack of US adults 18–54 yrs of age. Given chewing gum's popularity and potential for benefits, we examined data from NHANES, the only population-based diet and health survey that includes chewing gum consumption data, to explore the characteristics of gum chewers -- demographics and possible relationships with weight status. These analyses identified 589 participants (58% female, 42% male) who reported chewing gum at least 1 time per day with a median intake of 4 grams per day, which translated into a little over a stick of gum a day. The amount of gum chewed ranged from 0.7 grams to 112 grams. Most people reported chewing gum between noon and 5 PM (289 mentions) and a majority (480 mentions) report chewing gum as a snack. Male participants 12–17 yrs old reported the most gum chewed while females 12–17 yrs old reported the least. There was a significant (p<0.05) inverse relationship between waist circumference and the amount of gum chewed. However, there was no significant relationship between gum chewed and BMI. The potential importance of the benefits of chewing on health necessitates further research to define the role of chewing gum on health outcomes and the need for databases to address these questions. Supported by the Wrigley Science Institute.