Snacking behaviours of adolescents and their association with skipping meals
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Snacking is likely to play an important role in the development of overweight and obesity, yet little is known about the contexts of snacking in adolescents or how snacking may influence other dietary habits, like meal skipping. This...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2007-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/4/1/36 |
| _version_ | 1818750921517039616 |
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| author | Worsley Anthony Ball Kylie MacFarlane Abbie Savige Gayle Crawford David |
| author_facet | Worsley Anthony Ball Kylie MacFarlane Abbie Savige Gayle Crawford David |
| author_sort | Worsley Anthony |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Snacking is likely to play an important role in the development of overweight and obesity, yet little is known about the contexts of snacking in adolescents or how snacking may influence other dietary habits, like meal skipping. This study examines the contexts in which adolescents snack and whether these contexts are associated with demographic characteristics of adolescents and with meal skipping.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional, self-reported online food habits survey was administered to 3,250 secondary students in years seven and nine. The students were drawn from 37 secondary schools in Victoria, Australia during 2004–2005. Frequencies of meal skipping, and snacking in eight contexts, were compared across gender, year level and region of residence. Logistic regressions were performed to examine associations between snacking contexts and meal skipping adjusting for gender and region.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The most common contexts for snacking among adolescents were after school (4.6 times per week), while watching TV (3.5 times per week) and while hanging out with friends (2.4 times per week). Adolescents were least likely to snack all day long (0.8 times per week) or in the middle of the night (0.4 times per week). Snacking contexts were variously associated with gender, year level and region. In contrast, meal skipping was associated with gender and region of residence but not year level. Adolescents who reported more frequent snacking on the run, on the way to or from school, all day long, or in the middle of the night were more likely to skip meals.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest adolescents snack frequently, especially in their leisure time. In addition, adolescents who snack on the run, on the way to or from school, all day long or in the middle of the night are more likely to skip meals than are adolescents who don't snack at these times. Understanding the contexts in which adolescents snack, and their associations with skipping meals, may assist those involved in the promotion of healthy food habits among adolescents.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:27:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-84edf4c660144bcbb810d8a123974918 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:27:21Z |
| publishDate | 2007-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj.art-84edf4c660144bcbb810d8a1239749182022-12-21T21:21:04ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682007-09-01413610.1186/1479-5868-4-36Snacking behaviours of adolescents and their association with skipping mealsWorsley AnthonyBall KylieMacFarlane AbbieSavige GayleCrawford David<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Snacking is likely to play an important role in the development of overweight and obesity, yet little is known about the contexts of snacking in adolescents or how snacking may influence other dietary habits, like meal skipping. This study examines the contexts in which adolescents snack and whether these contexts are associated with demographic characteristics of adolescents and with meal skipping.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional, self-reported online food habits survey was administered to 3,250 secondary students in years seven and nine. The students were drawn from 37 secondary schools in Victoria, Australia during 2004–2005. Frequencies of meal skipping, and snacking in eight contexts, were compared across gender, year level and region of residence. Logistic regressions were performed to examine associations between snacking contexts and meal skipping adjusting for gender and region.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The most common contexts for snacking among adolescents were after school (4.6 times per week), while watching TV (3.5 times per week) and while hanging out with friends (2.4 times per week). Adolescents were least likely to snack all day long (0.8 times per week) or in the middle of the night (0.4 times per week). Snacking contexts were variously associated with gender, year level and region. In contrast, meal skipping was associated with gender and region of residence but not year level. Adolescents who reported more frequent snacking on the run, on the way to or from school, all day long, or in the middle of the night were more likely to skip meals.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest adolescents snack frequently, especially in their leisure time. In addition, adolescents who snack on the run, on the way to or from school, all day long or in the middle of the night are more likely to skip meals than are adolescents who don't snack at these times. Understanding the contexts in which adolescents snack, and their associations with skipping meals, may assist those involved in the promotion of healthy food habits among adolescents.</p>http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/4/1/36 |
| spellingShingle | Worsley Anthony Ball Kylie MacFarlane Abbie Savige Gayle Crawford David Snacking behaviours of adolescents and their association with skipping meals International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| title | Snacking behaviours of adolescents and their association with skipping meals |
| title_full | Snacking behaviours of adolescents and their association with skipping meals |
| title_fullStr | Snacking behaviours of adolescents and their association with skipping meals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Snacking behaviours of adolescents and their association with skipping meals |
| title_short | Snacking behaviours of adolescents and their association with skipping meals |
| title_sort | snacking behaviours of adolescents and their association with skipping meals |
| url | http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/4/1/36 |
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