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Cited by 271Nutrition, Health and Food BehaviorObesity, Physical Activity, DietNutritional Studies and Diet

40-year trends in meal and snack eating behaviors of American adults

Open access
Kant, Ashima K., Graubard, Barry I.·2015·Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
DOI 10.1016/j.jand.2014.06.354PMC PMC4276433
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Understanding changes in profiles of eating behaviors over time may provide insights into contributors to upward trajectories of obesity in the US population. Yet little is known about whether or not characteristics of meal and snack eating behaviors reported by adult Americans have changed over time. OBJECTIVE: To examine time trends in the distribution of day's intake into individual meal and snack behaviors and related attributes in the US adult population. DESIGN: The study was observational with cross-sectional data from national surveys fielded over 40 years. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Nationally representative dietary data from nine National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted from 1971-1974 to 2009-2010 (N=62,298 participants aged 20-74 years) were used to describe eating behaviors. OUTCOMES EXAMINED: The respondent-labeled eating behaviors examined included main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and snacks (before breakfast, between breakfast and lunch, between lunch and dinner, after dinner, or other). For each eating behavior, percent of reporters, relative contribution to 24-hour energy intake, the clock time of report, and intermeal/snack intervals were examined. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Multivariable logistic and linear regression methods for analysis of complex survey data adjusted for characteristics of respondents in each survey. RESULTS: Over the 40-year span examined reports of each individual named main meal (or all three main meals) declined, but reports of only two out of three meals or the same meal more than once increased; the percentage of 24-hour energy from snacks reported between lunch and dinner or snacks that displaced meals increased; clock times of breakfast and lunch were later, and intervals between dinner and after-dinner snack were shorter. Changes in several snack reporting behaviors (eg, report of any snack or ≥2 snacks), were significant in women only. CONCLUSIONS: Several meal and snack eating behaviors of American adults changed over time, with a greater change in snack behaviors of women relative to men.

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  • In 62,298 American adults, snacking behavior is more prevalent in women than in men.

    “a study performed in 62,298 American adults reported that snacking behavior was more prevalent in women than in men (125).”

    From Meal timing and its role in obesity and associated diseases (2024) · cites this paper as [125]

    The Methods (Analytic sample; page not available) give a final sample of 62,298 adults. The Discussion (Interpretation of study findings; page not available) says upward trends in several reported snack behaviors were stronger in women, but it does not establish the claim that snacking was more prevalent in women than in men. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • In both sexes, higher intake of snacks unrelated to main meals reduces the number of main meals.

    “the authors also reported a trend in both sexes that a higher intake of snacks unrelated to main meals reduces the number of main meals (125).”

    From Meal timing and its role in obesity and associated diseases (2024) · cites this paper as [125]

    The Results (Reporting of meals and snacks) report that, in both men and women, snacks not bracketed by consecutive meals increased over time while reports of main meals declined. The Discussion (Interpretation of study findings) says this suggests snacks *possibly* substituted for meals; it does not establish that higher snack intake causes a reduction in the number of main meals. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [31]Institute of Medicine Dietary Reference Intakes Applications in Dietary Assessment Washington, DC National Academy Press 2000

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Authors
Kant, A. K., & Graubard, B. I.
Affiliations
Queens College, CUNY (US)
Corresponding author
Kant, Ashima K.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-01
Volume
115
Issue
1
Pages
50-63
ISSN
2212-2672 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jand.2014.06.354
PMC
PMC4276433
OpenAlex
W1973041680
Cited by
271
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 2
FWCI
14.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • City University of New York
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Cancer Institute (ZIACP010184)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
Keywords
temporal trends, dietary behavior change, main meals, meal timing, intermeal interval, obesity, sex differences
MeSH terms
Adult, Energy Intake, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diet, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Male, Nutrition Surveys, Mental Recall, United States, Nutrition Assessment, Multivariate Analysis, Logistic Models, Young Adult, Meals, Snacks

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