Snacking, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and child obesity in low-income households

Abstract

Purpose Snacking contributes to one-quarter of children’s total daily energy intake in the USA, with many snack foods being nutrient-poor and energy-dense. Snacking and sugary beverage consumption have been identified as potential contributors to childhood overweight and obesity and may play a particularly important role among children from socioeconomically disadvantaged households that generally display higher rates of obesity. This exploratory study investigated associations between consumption of snack foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and overweight and obesity in children from low-income households. Design/methodology/approach Data from households that participated in a multi-state cost-offset (CO-CSA) community supported agriculture intervention in 2016 and 2017 (n = 305) were analyzed. Fixed effect regression models were used to estimate associations between child monthly consumption of salty snack foods; sweet snack foods and SSBs; and child weight status, accounting for demographic characteristics. Findings No associations were found between snack or SSB consumption and child overweight. However, household income was significantly, negatively related to all three consumption variables (Salty snacks: ß = −0.09, SE = 0.04, p = 0.02; Sweet snacks: ß= −0.10, SE = 0.04, p = 0.01; SSB: ß= −0.21, SE = 0.05, p = 0.0001). The results suggest that household income may play an important role in children’s snacking and SSB behaviors among more disadvantaged households. Practical implications Factors beyond snack food and SSB consumption should be explored to better understand childhood overweight and obesity, and to inform future obesity interventions. Originality/value Socioeconomic disparities in childhood obesity are an ongoing policy-relevant issue within the USA and internationally. This study provides new information about child snacking behaviors in a unique, low-income population and contributes to the evidence base regarding the role household context in shaping child consumption behaviors.

Parental behaviour in choosing snacks for children aged six to ten: the role of mothers' nutritional awareness

“…, 2011). Indeed, in another study examining the consumption of sweet snacks, salty snacks and sugary drinks in low-income families, the results show that there is no association between the consumption of snacks or sugary drinks and excess weight in children (Walsh et al. , 2020).…”

“…In addition, a study shows that there is a significant negative association between three consumption variables (sweet treats, salty snacks, and sugary drinks) and household income (Walsh et al. , 2020).…”

“…In addition, a study shows that there is a significant negative association between three consumption variables (sweet treats, salty snacks, and sugary drinks) and household income (Walsh et al, 2020). Furthermore, in the USA it has been highlighted that people with higher incomes eat more nuts and eat them more frequently than people with lower incomes (Lin et al, 2001).…”

The threshold of sweet taste recognition among a sample of Moroccan population

“…Ashi et al (2019) have reported no significant correlation between the dietary habits and the BMI of a group Saudi schoolchild. In contrary, Walsh et al (2020) have reported that snacking and sugary beverage consumption have been identified as potential contributors to childhood overweight and obesity (Walsh et al, 2020).…”

Novel nutritionally improved snacks for school-aged children: formulation, characterization and acceptability

“…In several countries, approximately 60% of the daily caloric intake of children came from ultra-processed foods, and the primary and secondary school environment were one of the main places of consumption of this type of products because of the accessible acquisition of ready-to-eat meals (Khandpur et al, 2020). Moreover, increased consumption of ultraprocessed foods was correlated with socioeconomic level, as low-income households had a higher registered consumption of cheaper and less nutritious foods (Matos et al, 2021;Walsh et al, 2021). Therefore, adoption of healthier dietary patterns should help reintroduce the ingestion of good-quality components, such as fibre, complex carbohydrates and unsaturated fats, thus displacing the aforementioned undesirable ones from diets.…”