Secular Trends in Meal and Snack Patterns among Adolescents from 1999 to 2010

Abstract

Background Linkages between snack patterns, diet, and obesity in adolescents likely depend on the consumption of main meals, how often snacks are prepared away from home, and whether energy-dense, nutrient-poor snack foods and sugary drinks are frequently consumed. Nutritional interventions need to be informed by an understanding of how secular changes in the contribution of snacks to dietary intake may be related to changes in meal frequency as well as how these trends differ by sociodemographics. Objectives To examine secular trends from 1999 to 2010 in meal and snack patterns among adolescents. Design A repeated cross-sectional design was used. Participants/setting Participants from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN secondary schools completed classroom-administered surveys and food frequency questionnaires in 1999 (n=2,598) and 2010 (n=2,540). Main outcome measures Weekly meal frequencies; number of snacks consumed on school and vacation/weekend days; frequent consumption of snacks prepared away from home (≥3 times/week); and daily servings of energy-dense, nutrient-poor food/drinks that are commonly consumed at snack occasions. Statistical analyses performed Trends from 1999 to 2010 were examined using inverse probability weighting to control for differences in sociodemographic characteristics in the two samples. Results Mean frequencies of breakfast and lunch increased modestly in the overall population (both P<0.001), and there were decreases in the number of snacks consumed on schools days (P<0.001) and vacation/weekend days (P=0.003). Although there was no change in the proportion of adolescents who reported frequent consumption of snacks prepared away from home, there was a secular decrease in energy-dense, nutrient-poor food/drink consumption (P<0.001). Sociodemographic differences in the identified trends were evident. Conclusions The observed pattern of sociodemographic differences in meal and snack trends among adolescents suggests the need for targeted efforts to ensure public health messages reach low-income and ethnic/racial minority population subgroups most vulnerable to poor nutrition and the development of obesity.

Adolescent Snacking Behaviors Are Associated with Dietary Intake and Weight Status

“…The frequencies of snacking while watching television were reported as follows: 5.9%, never; 24.8%, rarely; 43.9%, sometimes; 17.0%, usually; and 8.4%, always. Previously reported sociodemographic patterns of snacking behavior were confirmed (5). Descriptive statistics additionally suggested that girls were more likely than boys (b = 0.14, SEE = 0.04, P < 0.001) to snack while watching television.…”

“…The validity and reliability of the Youth and Adolescent FFQ have been previously examined and found to be within acceptable ranges for dietary assessment (31,32). Similar to previous research, responses to the FFQ were excluded for 123 participants who reported biologically implausible amounts of total energy intake (<400 or >7000 kcal/d) (5,33).…”

“…It is critical that strategies and messages designed to address snacking behaviors are informed by a comprehensive understanding of the potentially complex relations between snacking behaviors and weight-related outcomes. Previously reported differences in snacking behaviors between population subgroups include a greater consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor snack foods by low-income, black, Native American, and mixed ethnicity/ race adolescents (5). The reported differences suggest that it may be particularly important to build on knowledge of these relations among lower-income and ethnic/racial minority groups who experience the highest rates of poor nutrition and obesity (6)(7)(8)(9).…”

Combinação de indicadores negativos da aptidão física e fatores associados em adolescentes

“…In another study carried out with a representative sample of children and adolescents in Canada, there was a decrease in the FPM levels in the period from 1981 to 2008 3 . In addition, the consumption of industrialized foods rich in empty calories by children and adolescents 27 is increasing, which directly contributes to increase body fat, and these factors (decline in aerobic fitness, FPM levels and consumption of processed foods rich in empty calories) could possibly justify the high prevalence of low aerobic fitness, low FPM levels and excess body fat identified in the study.…”

Development and validation of a quantitative snack and beverage food frequency questionnaire for adolescents

“…Snack intake should be measured as the consumption of typical snack foods, both healthy and unhealthy, at snack times (e.g. any food eaten in between the main meals) (19,20) . The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a short quantitative FFQ to measure both habitual snack and beverage intake, using the correct definition of snacking (e.g.…”