The factors contributing to the nation's childhood obesity epidemic are many. Snacking is an important component of children's eating, but more children are feasting on high-calorie, low-nutrient foods between their meals. Research on how much snacking contributes to the obesity problem is conflicting, however. What is clear is that children are simply consuming too many calories through all of their eating. Soda and "junk food" items are highly featured in kids' diets, so healthier snacking could help reduce the number of calories children consume and thus lower the number of obese children.
Childhood Obesity in America
According to the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity, one is every three children in the United States is overweight or obese. Obesity rates among children have steadily climbed over the past several decades, says the task force, to the point where one-third of all children born in 2000 are expected to develop diabetes in their lifetime and possibly live fewer years than their parents. Your child's chances of becoming obese start before he or she is born. Having a pregnant mother with gestational or other type of diabetes confers additional risk of your child becoming obese. Mothers who gain excessive weight or smoke during pregnancy are also likely to have children with weight issues. Moreover, genetics and environment also play huge roles in shaping children's eating habits, including snacking, and may predispose them to obesity.
The Importance of Snacking
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that snacks play a vital role in childhood nutrition. Little bellies can't contain enough food for children's high energy demands. Having healthy, balanced meals, along with two or three snacks daily is a recommendation the academy makes to help children meet their nutritional needs. It's also important to be consistent with the timing of snacks so children don't get too ravenous and overeat when they are served food.
High-Calorie Snacking
Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported in the March 2010 journal "Health Affairs" that snacking among children has changed dramatically and that it is indeed a major contributor to childhood obesity. The authors studied federal nutrition surveys and the eating habits of more than 31,000 children between 1977 and 2006. They found that in the beginning, snacking used to provide just about 186 calories per day and by the end, snacking was providing 586 calories daily. The highest increase was among preschoolers and young school-age children --- a time when eating habits become etched in daily routines. The researchers also found the quality of snacking has greatly diminished. Chips, candy, soda and the like accounted for 27 percent of the daily caloric intake.
Total Eating, Not Snacking
Two economists publishing in the Spring 2006 issue of "The Future of Children" say snacking by itself is not the cause childhood overweight. They reason, after reviewing several studies on the subject, that the amount of calories consumed in snacking by obese children and healthy-weight children is similar. The calorie imbalance lies elsewhere, they say. They acknowledge that snack foods tend to be high in calories, but say obese children don't snack more than healthy weight children. One major point of agreement between the two research studies was that soda was a major determinant of weight and body mass index. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 says soda is the third-highest supplier of calories for children ages 2 to 18. It's also a major source of added sugar. Ultimately, the researchers agree that children are eating too much altogether, but their meals are just as problematic as their snacking.
Healthy Snacking
The Weight-control Information Network recommends that parents begin healthy eating habits early by exposing their children to a variety of foods. The network says to even let your children help you cook and prepare snacks. In addition, try low-calorie versions of their favorite treats, such as air-popped popcorn instead of butter-laden or pretzels in place of high-calorie chips. Avoid allowing your child to eat in front of the television. The White House Task Force says this promotes mindless snacking and makes your children ask for the unhealthy snacks they see on television.
References
- White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity; Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity within a Generation; May 2010
- "The Future of Children"; Childhood Obesity: Trends and Potential Causes; Patricia M. Anderson and Kristin F. Butcher; Spring 2006
- Weight-control Information Network. Helping Your Child: Healthy Eating & Physical Activity Across Your Lifespan: Tips for Parents; January 2007
- USDA: Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010
- "Health Affairs"; Trends In Snacking Among U.S. Children; Carmen Piernas and Barry M. Popkin; March 2010
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