Energy, nutrients and food sources in snacks for adolescents and young adults / Energia, nutrientes e fontes alimentares em lanches de adolescentes e jovens adultos

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate associations between snacking and energy, nutrients and food source, and to identify the contribution of snacking across age, sex, weight status and lifestyle behaviors among adolescents and young adults. Methods: A sub-sample was calculated from the population-based cross-sectional study 2015-Health Survey of São Paulo (ISA-Capital). The survey "ISA-Nutrição" used a sample of non-institutionalized individuals aged >15 years. For this study, only adolescents (12-18 years old; n=418) and young adults (19-29 years old; n=218) were included. Snacks were identified, and their contribution to energy, nutrients, and food sources were calculated. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used. Results: Participants experienced an average of 2.9±0.6 snacking occasions per day. Young adults consumed more energy from morning and night snacks, and adolescents, from afternoon snacks. The top three food sources on snacking contributed to 30.5% of energy: cookies (11.8%), sugar sweetened beverages (9.4%), sweets and other desserts (9.3%). Although results were non-significant, being a female (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.93; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.36-1.49), meeting the physical activity recommendations (OR 0.75; 95%CI 0.25-1.25), and scoring higher for the healthy eating index (OR 0.88; 95%C 0.24-1.52) were all factors related to increased intake of snacks. Alternatively, overweight individuals (OR -0.54; 95%CI -1.00 to -0.08) consumed less snacks. Conclusions: Improving the quality of snacks should be considered in behavior-change strategies.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar associações entre lanches e consumo de energia, nutrientes e fontes alimentares e identificar seus contribuintes por idade, sexo, status de peso e comportamentos de estilo de vida entre adolescentes e jovens adultos. Métodos: Subamostra calculada a partir do estudo de base-populacional transversal Inquéritos de Saúde de São Paulo (ISA-Capital, 2015). O ISA-Nutrição utilizou amostra de indivíduos não-institucionalizados com idade >15 anos. Para este estudo, apenas adolescentes (12-18 anos; n=418) e jovens adultos (19-29 anos; n=218) foram incluídos. Os "lanches" foram definidos, bem como foram calculadas a contribuição de energia e nutrientes, e as fontes alimentares. Estatística descritiva e regressões logísticas foram utilizadas. Resultados: Em média foram realizados 2,9±0,6 lanches por dia pelos participantes. Jovens adultos consumiram mais energia nos lanches da manhã e noite, enquanto adolescentes, à tarde. As três principais fontes de alimentos nos lanches contribuíram em 30,5% para o total de energia: biscoitos (11,8%), bebidas açucaradas (9,4%), e doces e outras sobremesas (9,3%). Apesar de os resultados não serem significantes, ser do sexo feminino (Odds Ratio [OR] 0,93, intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%] 0,36-1,49), atingir as recomendações de atividade física (OR 0,75, IC95% 0,25-1,25), e ter alta pontuação no índice do total da qualidade dieta (OR 0,88, IC95% 0,24-1,52) resultou em aumento na ingestão de lanches. Alternativamente, ter sobrepeso (OR -0.54, IC95% -1.00 a -0.08) está relacionado a menores chances de consumir lanches. Conclusões: Estratégias para melhorar a qualidade dos lanches deveriam ser consideradas nas intervenções de mudança de comportamentos.

Energy, nutrients and food sources in snacks for adolescents and young adults.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between snacking and energy, nutrients and food source, and to identify the contribution of snacking across age, sex, weight status and lifestyle behaviors among adolescents and young adults. METHODS: A sub-sample was calculated from the population-based cross-sectional study 2015-Health Survey of São Paulo (ISA-Capital). The survey "ISA-Nutrição" used a sample of non-institutionalized individuals aged >15 years. For this study, only adolescents (12-18 years old; n=418) and young adults (19-29 years old; n=218) were included. Snacks were identified, and their contribution to energy, nutrients, and food sources were calculated. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used. RESULTS: Participants experienced an average of 2.9±0.6 snacking occasions per day. Young adults consumed more energy from morning and night snacks, and adolescents, from afternoon snacks. The top three food sources on snacking contributed to 30.5% of energy: cookies (11.8%), sugar sweetened beverages (9.4%), sweets and other desserts (9.3%). Although results were non-significant, being a female (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.93; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.36-1.49), meeting the physical activity recommendations (OR 0.75; 95%CI 0.25-1.25), and scoring higher for the healthy eating index (OR 0.88; 95%C 0.24-1.52) were all factors related to increased intake of snacks. Alternatively, overweight individuals (OR -0.54; 95%CI -1.00 to -0.08) consumed less snacks. CONCLUSIONS: Improving the quality of snacks should be considered in behavior-change strategies.