Preventing Chronic Disease | Identifying Sources of Children’s Consumption of Junk Food in Boston After-School Programs, April–May 2011 - CDC
Identifying Sources of Children’s Consumption of Junk Food in Boston After-School Programs, April–May 2011
Erica L. Kenney, ScD, MPH; S. Bryn Austin, ScD, MS; Angie L. Cradock, ScD, MPE; Catherine M. Giles, MPH; Rebekka M. Lee, ScD, MS; Kirsten K. Davison, PhD, MS; Steven L. Gortmaker, PhD
Suggested citation for this article: Kenney EL, Austin SB, Cradock AL, Giles CM, Lee RM, Davison KK, et al. Identifying Sources of Children’s Consumption of Junk Food in Boston After-School Programs, April–May 2011. Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:140301. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.140301
.
.PEER REVIEWED
Abstract
Introduction
Little is known about how the nutrition environment in after-school settings may affect children’s dietary intake. We measured the nutritional quality of after-school snacks provided by programs participating in the National School Lunch Program or the Child and Adult Care Food Program and compared them with snacks brought from home or purchased elsewhere (nonprogram snacks). We quantified the effect of nonprogram snacks on the dietary intake of children who also received program-provided snacks during after-school time. Our study objective was to determine how different sources of snacks affect children’s snack consumption in after-school settings.
Little is known about how the nutrition environment in after-school settings may affect children’s dietary intake. We measured the nutritional quality of after-school snacks provided by programs participating in the National School Lunch Program or the Child and Adult Care Food Program and compared them with snacks brought from home or purchased elsewhere (nonprogram snacks). We quantified the effect of nonprogram snacks on the dietary intake of children who also received program-provided snacks during after-school time. Our study objective was to determine how different sources of snacks affect children’s snack consumption in after-school settings.
Methods
We recorded snacks served to and brought in by 298 children in 18 after-school programs in Boston, Massachusetts, on 5 program days in April and May 2011. We measured children’s snack consumption on 2 program days using a validated observation protocol. We then calculated within-child change-in-change models to estimate the effect of nonprogram snacks on children’s dietary intake after school.
We recorded snacks served to and brought in by 298 children in 18 after-school programs in Boston, Massachusetts, on 5 program days in April and May 2011. We measured children’s snack consumption on 2 program days using a validated observation protocol. We then calculated within-child change-in-change models to estimate the effect of nonprogram snacks on children’s dietary intake after school.
Results
Nonprogram snacks contained more sugary beverages and candy than program-provided snacks. Having a nonprogram snack was associated with significantly higher consumption of total calories (+114.7 kcal, P < .001), sugar-sweetened beverages (+0.5 oz, P = .01), desserts (+0.3 servings, P < .001), and foods with added sugars (+0.5 servings; P < .001) during the snack period.
Nonprogram snacks contained more sugary beverages and candy than program-provided snacks. Having a nonprogram snack was associated with significantly higher consumption of total calories (+114.7 kcal, P < .001), sugar-sweetened beverages (+0.5 oz, P = .01), desserts (+0.3 servings, P < .001), and foods with added sugars (+0.5 servings; P < .001) during the snack period.
Conclusion
On days when children brought their own after-school snack, they consumed more salty and sugary foods and nearly twice as many calories than on days when they consumed only program-provided snacks. Policy strategies limiting nonprogram snacks or setting nutritional standards for them in after-school settings should be explored further as a way to promote child health.
On days when children brought their own after-school snack, they consumed more salty and sugary foods and nearly twice as many calories than on days when they consumed only program-provided snacks. Policy strategies limiting nonprogram snacks or setting nutritional standards for them in after-school settings should be explored further as a way to promote child health.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by Cooperative Agreement number 1U48DP001946 (including the Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Prevention Research Centers Program, and by the Donald and Sue Pritzker Nutrition and Fitness Initiative. The CDC and the Donald and Sue Priztker Nutrition and Fitness Initiative had no role in the design, analysis, or writing of this article.
Author Information
Corresponding Author: Erica L. Kenney, ScD, MPH, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, SPH3, Floor 7, Boston, MA 02115. Telephone: 617-384-8722. E-mail: elk782@mail.harvard.edu.
Author Affiliations: S. Bryn Austin, Angie L. Cradock, Catherine M. Giles, Rebekka M. Lee, Kirsten K. Davison, Steven L. Gortmaker, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
.png)
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario