The effect of snacking and eating frequency on dietary quality in British adolescents

Identifier:  imarina:6388263

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina6388263

Authors:  Llaurado, E; Albar, S A; Giralt, M; Sola, R; Evans, C E L

Abstract:
© 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Purpose: To describe the effects of number of eating occasions and snacks on dietary quality (DQ), defined as adherence to dietary recommendations. Methods: A sample of 884 adolescents (11–18 years) in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) were included. The Diet Quality Index for Adolescents (DQI-A) was implemented. The total number of eating occasions and snacks was frequency of food or beverages consumed over 24 h and frequency of foods or beverages consumed outside of the three mealtimes, respectively. Results were generated with and without low-energy food under 210 kJ (50 kcal). Regression models were generated with DQ score as the outcome variable and number of eating occasions and snacks as predictors. Results: The mean (95 % CI) DQ score was 31.1 % (30.2, 32.0). The mean number of eating occasions and snacks was 7.5 (7.3, 7.7) and 2.6 (2.6, 2.7) times/day, respectively. When low-energy events were excluded, the mean number of eating occasions and snacks reduced to 6.2 (6.1, 6.4) and 2.0 (2.0, 2.1) times/day, respectively. DQ score increased by 0.74 points (0.42, 1.05; p < 0.01) and 0.55 points (−0.08, 0.69; p = 0.17) for total eating occasions and snacks, respectively. When low-energy events were excluded, DQ score increased by 0.30 points (−0.84, 0.69; p = 0.13) for each eating occasion and decreased by 1.20 points (−2.1, −0.3; p < 0.01) for each snack. Conclusion: Eating more frequently improves dietary quality especially if some eating occasions are low in energy. A focus on replacing high-energy snacks with low-energy alternatives rather than reducing the number of eating occasions may result in improved dietary quality in adolescents.