Snacking characteristics and patterns and their associations with diet quality and BMI in the Childhood Obesity Prevention and Treatment Research Consortium.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:To describe snacking characteristics and patterns in children and examine associations with diet quality and BMI. DESIGN:Children's weight and height were measured. Participants/adult proxies completed multiple 24 h dietary recalls. Snack occasions were self-identified. Snack patterns were derived for each sample using exploratory factor analysis. Associations of snacking characteristics and patterns with Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) score and BMI were examined using multivariable linear regression models. SETTING:Childhood Obesity Prevention and Treatment Research (COPTR) Consortium, USA: NET-Works, GROW, GOALS and IMPACT studies. PARTICIPANTS:Predominantly low-income, racial/ethnic minorities: NET-Works (n 534, 2-4-year-olds); GROW (n 610, 3-5-year-olds); GOALS (n 241, 7-11-year-olds); IMPACT (n 360, 10-13-year-olds). RESULTS:Two snack patterns were derived for three studies: a meal-like pattern and a beverage pattern. The IMPACT study had a similar meal-like pattern and a dairy/grains pattern. A positive association was observed between meal-like pattern adherence and HEI-2010 score (P for trend < 0?01) and snack occasion frequency and HEI-2010 score (? coefficient (95 % CI): NET-Works, 0?14 (0?04, 0?23); GROW, 0?12 (0?02, 0?21)) among younger children. A preference for snacking while using a screen was inversely associated with HEI-2010 score in all studies except IMPACT (? coefficient (95 % CI): NET-Works, -3?15 (-5?37, -0?92); GROW, -2?44 (-4?27, -0?61); GOALS, -5?80 (-8?74, -2?86)). Associations with BMI were almost all null. CONCLUSIONS:Meal-like and beverage patterns described most children's snack intake, although patterns for non-Hispanic Blacks or adolescents may differ. Diets of 2-5-year-olds may benefit from frequent meal-like pattern snack consumption and diets of all children may benefit from decreasing screen use during eating occasions.

SUBMITTER: LeCroy MN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6854314 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature