The Effect of Snack Consumption on Energy Intake in Preschoolers
- Conditions
- Energy IntakeSnacksChildren, Preschool
- Interventions
- Behavioral: SnackingBehavioral: No Snacking
- Registration Number
- NCT02207049
- Lead Sponsor
- The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Brief Summary
The purpose of this pilot study will be to examine the influence of providing snacks on consumption of overall energy intake in children aged 2-5 years in the Early Learning Center (ELC) at the University of Tennessee.
- Detailed Description
Providing snacks to children is widely recommended for appetite regulation and assisting with meeting nutritional guidelines.1 Currently, snacks contribute a larger portion of dietary intake in children than in previous years.2,3 Additionally, observational research has found that self-reported, low-nutrient-dense snack consumption, has increased among preschoolers (ages 2-to-6 years) over the past 20 years, leading to an increase of total daily energy intake.3 However, no experimental studies examining the influence of snack intake on energy consumption in children have been conducted.2 Therefore, at this time it is not clear how snacks impact appetite regulation or energy intake, especially in young children.
Thus, the purpose of this pilot study will be to examine the influence of providing snacks on consumption of overall energy intake in children aged 2-5 years in the Early Learning Center (ELC) at the University of Tennessee. Children will be provided with 3-to-5 ad libitum eating occasions over the course of a day for three sessions. To test the effects of providing snacks to preschoolers on consumption of food throughout the day, the food will be provided in three ways in the three different sessions: 1) children will be provided three meals (TM); 2) children will be provided three meals and two snacks, with total amount of food provided in the day the same as TM (M+S); and 3) children will be provided three meals and two snacks with total amount provided in the meals equal to TM and total amount provided in the snacks equal to M+S (TM+S).
Primary Hypothesis:
1) Energy consumed from food and beverages will be greatest during the TM+S session, followed by M+S, and then TM.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 20
- 3 -to- 5 years of age
- enrolled at the Early Learning Center for the full day program
- have guardian consent to participate
- like the foods served
- have allergies or intolerances to the foods being served
- not able to use a spoon
- did not attend all feeding sessions
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- SINGLE_GROUP
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Three Meal plus Snack (TM+S) Snacking Preschoolers will be provided three meals and two snacks with total amount provided in the meals equal to the Three Meal (TM) arm and total amount provided in the snacks equal to Meal plus Snacks (M+S) arm. Three Meals (TM) No Snacking Preschoolers will be provided their caloric needs within three meals. Meal plus Snack (M+S) Snacking Preschoolers will be provided three meals and two snacks, with total amount of food provided in the day the same as the Three Meal (TM) arm.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Total calories of the food and beverages consumed. 3 weeks Total calories of food and beverage consumed by participants over the 3-week study (with 1 day of food and beverage per week) period will be determined by subtracting pre- and post-consumption weight of the food and beverage provided and multiplied by the energy density of each respective food and beverage.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory
🇺🇸Knoxville, Tennessee, United States