Trends in SSBs and snack consumption among children by age, body weight, and race/ethnicity

Abstract

Objective: To describe national trends in discretionary calories from sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) and snacks by age-specific body weight categories and by age- and weight-specific race/ethnicity groups. Examining these subpopulations is important as population averages may mask important differences.

Design and methods: 24-hour dietary recall data obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2010 among children aged 2 to 19 (N = 14,092) were used. Logistic and linear regression methods were used to adjust for multiple covariates and survey design.

Results: The number of calories from SSBs declined significantly for nearly all age-specific body weight groups. Among overweight or obese children, significant declines in the number of calories from SSBs were observed among Hispanic children aged 2 to 5 (117 vs. 174 kcal) and white adolescents aged 12 to 19 (299 vs. 365 kcal). Significant declines in the number of calories from salty snacks were observed among white children aged 2 to 5 (192 to 134 kcal) and 6 to 11 (273 vs. 200 kcal).

Conclusions: The decrease in SSB consumption and increase in snack consumption observed in prior research are not uniform when children are examined within subgroups accounting for age, weight, and race/ethnicity.

Figure 1

Per capita discretionary and non-discretionary calorie intake, NHANES 2003-2010. Note: Discretionary calories are from SSBs, salty and sweet snacks. *Difference in discretionary calories between 2003-2006 and 2007-2010 within weight and age categories significant at p<0.05. † Difference in discretionary calories between healthy weight and overweight within age categories and time periods significant at p<0.05. ‡ Difference in non-discretionary calories between 2003-2006 and 2007-2010 within weight and age categories significant at p<0.05. § Difference in non-discretionary calories between healthy weight and overweight within age categories and time periods significant at p<0.05.