Association of weight status with the types of foods consumed at snacking occasions among US adolescents

Objective This study aimed to evaluate snack food-group composition by weight status among United States adolescents. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of adolescent food-group-component intake from snacking occasions using two 24-hour dietary recalls from the 2007 through 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; n = 5264; 12-19 years) was conducted. ANCOVA models evaluated food intakes by BMI percentile (BMI%; normal weight [NW]: <85th BMI%; overweight [OW]: 85th-95th BMI%; and obesity [OB]: >= 95th BMI%), adjusting for energy misreporting and key covariates. Results Adolescents with OB consumed greater total daily energy from snacks (mean [SE]: NW = 424 [10] kcal; OW = 527 [16] kcal; OB = 603 [22] kcal; p < 0.001) than adolescents with OW and NW. Adolescents with OW or OB consumed higher amounts of refined grains, dairy, protein, oil, solid fat, and added sugar from snacks than adolescents with NW (p < 0.05-0.001). Conclusions Adolescents with OW or OB consume more calories and higher levels of overconsumed dietary components, i.e., added sugar, solid fats, and refined grains, from snacks than adolescents with NW. Age-specific snacking recommendations to inform dietary guidance are needed to prevent excess intake of overconsumed nutrients and calories.

Automated summary

Adolescents who are overweight or obese consume more calories and higher levels of overconsumed dietary components, such as added sugar, solid fats, and refined grains, from snacks than those with normal weight. Recommendations for age-specific snacking are necessary to prevent excessive intake of nutrients and calories.