Energy intake from unhealthy snack food/beverage among 12‐23‐month‐old children in urban Nepal

Abstract

Unhealthy snack food and beverage (USFB) consumption among young children has been noted in many low‐income and middle‐income countries (LMIC), however, there is a lack of information on the contribution of these foods to children's diets in these contexts. This study describes the nutrient profiles and costs of snacks consumed by young children in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, and assesses the proportion of total energy intake from nonbreastmilk foods (%TEI‐NBF) contributed by USFB and factors associated with high USFB consumption. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted among 745 randomly sampled primary caregivers of children aged 12–23 months. Of 239 unique snack foods and beverages consumed, 180 (75.3%) were classified as unhealthy based on nutrient profiling, with 158 of these being commercially branded. Median cost/100 kcal of USFB was lower as compared with healthy snacks. Ninety‐one percent of children had consumed a USFB in the previous 24 hr, with these foods contributing a mean %TEI‐NBF of 24.5 ± 0.7 among all children. Biscuits (10.8%), candy/chocolate (3.5%), and savoury snacks (3.4%) provided the largest %TEI‐NBF. Children who were older, female, or from the poorest households had significantly higher odds of high USFB consumption, whereas children whose caregivers were of upper caste/ethnicity or had achieved tertiary education had lower odds of consumption than other children. To reduce USFB consumption, interventions should seek to further understand social/cultural drivers of feeding practices, target disadvantaged populations, and ensure caregivers are fully aware of the nutritional quality of food products they choose for their children.

Marketing and infant and young child feeding in rapidly evolving food environments

“…Understanding the consumption patterns and the promotional messages mothers receive from the commercial sector about infant and young child feeding is also needed so that programmes can reinforce positive messages about optimal infant feeding and tailor messages and interventions to address the promotion of BMS, inappropriate promotion of commercially produced complementary foods, and consumption of commercial snack products among young children. As noted by Pries, Sharma, et al (), further research is needed to understand how consumption of energy‐dense, nutrient‐poor foods and beverages influences undernutrition and overnutrition among young children during the complementary feeding period. The first 3 years of life present a critical window of opportunity to protect and promote good nutrition and healthy dietary patterns.…”

“…As noted by Pries, Sharma, et al (2019), further research is needed to understand how consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and beverages influences undernutrition and overnutrition among young children during the complementary feeding period. The first 3 years of life present a critical window of opportunity to protect and promote good nutrition and healthy dietary patterns.…”

“…Sharma et al () assessed caregivers' perceptions of commercial snack foods/beverages and factors influencing their use for young child feeding. Seven focus group discussions and a survey of 745 primary caregivers of children 12–23 months were conducted in Kathmandu Valley (Pries, Sharma, et al, ). Authors report almost all children (98.4%) had consumed a snack food (such as biscuits/cookies, candy, potato chips, and cheeseballs) or sugar‐sweetened beverage in the week prior to interview; biscuits, candy/chocolates, savoury snacks, and instant noodles were the most commonly consumed, by 92.1%, 82.8%, 66.0%, and 59.2% of children.…”

“…Children of less educated mothers were more likely to have consumed a snack food compared to mothers with post-secondary level of education. Pries, Sharma, et al (2019) report on nutrient profiles of snack foods and beverages consumed by young children in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, and assessed the proportion of total energy intake from foods/liquids other than breastmilk contributed by snack foods and sugar-sweetened beverages. On average, unhealthy snack foods and beverages contributed 24.5% of total energy intake from foods/liquids other than breastmilk among children 12-23 months of age, and nearly all unhealthy snack foods and beverages were commercially produced.…”

Nutritional Trends and Practices Among 6-23 Months Old Children: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study From Bhaktapur, Nepal

“…For instance, Assessment in Child Feeding and Health (ARCH) studies are documenting high unhealthy snack food consumptions with a recent one documenting that a quarter of calorie consumed by the young children was coming from unhealthy foods. (11) It is thus now critical to continue the focus at how infants and young children's feeding behaviors and nutritional status are affected by the nutrition transitioning due to socio-economic and environmental changes in urban areas. We noticed a dearth of studies assessing both nutritional status as well as feeding practices (both the WHO recommended standard IYCF indicators and the unhealthy foods together) together among children aged 6-23 months in urban contexts of Nepal.…”