Snacking, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and child obesity in low-income households
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 7 May 2020
Issue publication date: 25 January 2021
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.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, under award number 2014–08347. The author is grateful to Drs Alice Ammerman, Karla Hanson and Rebecca Seguin who contributed to the initial study design, content knowledge and review of the manuscript. Additionally, Drs Jane Kolodinsky, Stephanie B. Jilcott Pitts and Marilyn Sitaker reviewed the manuscript and provided extremely valuable expertise and input. The author also thanks Dr Susan Ennett, for support throughout the writing process and the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. All authors reviewed and had final approval of the paper. The author is also grateful to the study participants and communities, without whom this study would not have been possible.
Citation
Walsh, C.E., Seguin-Fowler, R., Ammerman, A., Hanson, K., Pitts Jilcott, S.B., Kolodinsky, J., Sitaker, M. and Ennett, S. (2021), "Snacking, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and child obesity in low-income households", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 51 No. 1, pp. 151-163. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-02-2020-0048
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited