Energy-dense Nutrient-poor Snacks Research Articles

COVID-19-related lockdowns and changes in overweight and obesity, movement behaviours, diet quality, and health-related quality of life among regional Australian primary school children: A repeat cross-sectional study.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Australian state of Victoria (in particular, its capital, Melbourne) experienced some of the longest lockdowns in the world. This repeated cross-sectional study examined changes between March to June 2019 (pre-pandemic) and April to August 2022 (6 to 11 months following pandemic-related lockdowns) in overweight and obesity prevalence, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, diet quality, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among primary school children in north-east Victoria, Australia. Height and weight were measured for Grade 2, 4, and 6 students in 2019 (3889 children) and 2022 (1816 children). Grade 4 and 6 students self-reported on their movement behaviours, diet quality, and HRQoL. Participation declined among schools (2019:56%, 2022:34%) and students (2019:87%, 2022:75%). Compared to children in 2019, children in 2022 had a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity; were less likely to have met guidelines for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, recreational screen time, and vegetable consumption; had higher intakes of takeaway food, energy-dense nutrient-poor snacks, and sugar-sweetened beverages; and had lower HRQoL. Children's health-related behaviours and outcomes seemed not to have returned to pre-pandemic levels 6 to 11 months after the final lockdowns lifted for their communities. Continued monitoring and interventions targeting the drivers of childhood obesity are urgently needed.

Consumption of Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts Can Be Increased When Multitasking with Screen Devices

ABSTRACT Past research shows that people overconsume energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods when they are not paying attention to environmental cues that encourage consumption. Very little is known about the mindless consumption of nutritious foods (herein referred to as preferred foods). Using dual-processing, limited capacity, and mood management models and theories, this study explored whether people misreport the selection of preferred and EDNP foods under differing levels of distraction created by screen media device use. Participants freely grazed on EDNP and preferred snacks while either watching TV (one screen) or multitasking with two or three screens (TV, iPod, laptop computer). Participants under-reported the number of preferred foods they selected for consumption in the three-screen multitasking conditions more than in one- and two-screen conditions. They under-reported the selection of preferred snacks more than EDNP snacks in the three-screen conditions. The under-reporting of snack selection was greater in one three-screen condition (TV+texting+online shopping) (which was evaluated as highly arousing and pleasant), than in the other three-screen condition (TV+texting+online reading) (which was rated as highly arousing but less pleasant). Compared to participants with weaker health beliefs, those with stronger beliefs about healthy lifestyle said they were more rational in selecting preferred snacks. Findings show that people sometimes eat greater amounts of preferred foods than they realize, when they are multitasking with screen devices. By surrounding oneself with snack-size fruits, vegetables, and nuts in multitasking situations, mindless eating could be a powerful nudge to facilitate greater consumption of preferred foods to combat health concerns.

Prediction of metabolic syndrome by a high intake of energy-dense nutrient-poor snacks in Iranian children and adolescents.

Our aim was to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and energy-dense nutrient-poor solid snacks intakes during 3.6 y of follow-up among children and adolescents. This population-based longitudinal study was conducted within the framework of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, on 424 MetS free subjects, aged 6-18 y. Data on consumption of energy-dense nutrient-poor solid snacks, sweet and salty snacks, were collected at baseline (2006-2008). Logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, total energy intake, physical activity, dietary fiber, family history of diabetes, and body mass index, was used to assess the relationship between snacks and incident MetS. After adjustment for confounders, compared with the lowest quartile of total energy-dense nutrient-poor solid snacks, odds ratio of incident MetS in the highest quartile was 3.04 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-8.49); for sweet snacks this was 2.88 (95% CI: 1.00-8.32), and for salty ones it was 2.85 (95% CI: 1.09-7.43). The risk of incident hypertension in the highest, compared with the lowest quartile of total and salty snacks, was 2.99 (95% CI: 1.00-8.93) and 3.35 (95% CI: 1.10-10.17), respectively. Energy-dense nutrient-poor solid snacks, both salty and sweet, may have undesirable effects on the incidence of MetS, with salty snacks having the potential to increase risk of incident hypertension in children and adolescents as well.

Effects of energy-dense nutrient-poor snacks on the incidence of metabolic syndrome: A prospective approach in Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

ObjectivesIncreased consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor snacks is one of the major, growing concerns in relation to the alarming trend of overweight, obesity, and metabolic disorders worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate whether consumption of energy-dense snacks could affect the occurrence of metabolic syndrome after 3 y of follow-up in adults. MethodsThis longitudinal study was conducted within the framework of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study between 2006 and 2008 and 2009 and 2011, on 1466 adults, ages 19 to 70 y. The usual intake of participants was measured using a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Biochemical and anthropometric measurements were assessed at baseline and 3 y later. Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate the occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in each quartile of energy-dense snacks. ResultsParticipants in the highest quartile of energy-dense snack consumption were significantly younger (33.8 versus 43.1 y; P < 0.01). There were non-significant increased risks for MetS in the highest quartile of biscuits and cakes (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77–1.66), and candies and chocolates (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.88–1.94). The risk for MetS in participants with highest consumption of salty snacks increased more than 50% (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.01–2.40). Consumption of soft drinks had a borderline effect on the risk for MetS. More than 361 kcal/d from total energy-dense snacks independently increased the occurrence of MetS in the fourth compared the first quartile category (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.03–2.29). ConclusionThe findings of this study demonstrated that higher consumption of energy-dense snacks could be a dietary risk factor for development of MetS.