The increasing prevalence of snacking among US children from 1977 to 1996

doi:10.1067/mpd.2001.112162

The Journal of Pediatrics

Volume 138, Issue 4, April 2001, Pages 493-498

https://doi.org/10.1067/mpd.2001.112162 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objectives: To determine snacking trends and changes in nutrient contribution of snacking over time. Study design: Nationally representative data from the 1977-78 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (NFCS77), 1989-91 Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII89), and 1994-96 (CSFII96) were used. The sample consisted of 21,236 individuals aged 2 to 18 years. Methods: For each survey year, mean numbers of snacks consumed, mean grams consumed per snack, and mean energy intake from snacks were computed, as was contribution of snacking to total energy intake and fat intake. Snacking was self-defined, and a snacking occasion consisted of all snack foods consumed during a 15-minute period. Differences in means between age groups and across survey years were compared. Results: The prevalence of snacking increased in all age groups. The average size of snacks and energy per snack remained relatively constant; however, the number of snacking occasions increased significantly, therefore increasing the average daily energy from snacks. Compared with non-snack eating occasions, the nutrient contribution of snacks decreased in calcium density and increased in energy density and proportion of energy from fat. Conclusion: Snacking is extremely prevalent in our society. Healthy snack food choices should be emphasized over high-energy density convenience snacks for children. (J Pediatr 2001;138:493-8)

Section snippets

Survey Design and Sample

This study uses data on subjects aged 2 to 18 years from 3 nationally representative surveys of the US population. Of these 21,236 individuals, 12,231 participated in the 1977-78 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (NFCS77), 4008 participated in the 1989-91 Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals, and 4997 participated in the 1994-96 CSFII96. The United States Department of Agriculture surveys from 1977 and 1989 contain stratified area probability samples of noninstitutionalized US

Who Is Snacking?

The prevalence of snackers among children increased over all ages from 77% to 91% during the years covered. The changes in the percent of snackers, overall and within age groups, were minimal or nonexistent between 1977 and 1989; most of the increase occurred between 1989 and 1996 (Fig 1).

. Percent of children consuming snacks by age group from the CSFII in 1977, 1989, and 1996. Solid bars, 1977; open bars, 1989; hatched bars, 1996.

The percent of children consuming snacks by sociodemographic

Discussion

This study presents a picture of an important increase in the prevalence and dietary contribution of snacking in the diets of US children. Currently, snacking represents approximately a fourth of the energy and a fifth of many other nutrients, similar to any other meal occasion. The increase in nutrient contribution is primarily caused by an increase in the frequency of snacking and not the size of each snack. Moreover, energy density is much higher for snacks than the non-snacking component of

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^☆: Reprint requests: Barry M. Popkin, PhD, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB No. 8120 University Sq, 123 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516-3997.

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Original ArticlesThe increasing prevalence of snacking among US children from 1977 to 1996☆

Abstract

Section snippets

Survey Design and Sample

Who Is Snacking?

Discussion

J Pediatr

J Am Diet Assoc

J Am Diet Assoc

Am J Clin Nutr

Am J Clin Nutr

Am J Clin Nutr

J Am Diet Assoc

J Nutr Epidemiol

Overweight children and adolescents: description, epidemiology, and demographics

Pediatrics

Update: Prevalence of overweight among children, adolescents, and adults—United States 1988-94

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep

Original Articles
The increasing prevalence of snacking among US children from 1977 to 1996☆