Effects of Energy Density on Self-served Snacks in Preschool Children

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Eating Behavior
• Interventions: Other: Snack with energy density less than 1.5 kcal/g; Other: Snack with energy density greater than 1.5 kcal/g

• Registration Number: NCT04971811
• Lead Sponsor: Penn State University

Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to determine whether the energy density of snack foods affects the amounts that preschool children serve themselves and then consume. We will serve snacks that vary in energy density to preschool children in their childcare centers and measure the amount they serve themselves and consume. The results will have implications for guidance about the provision of snacks for preschool children and may help in identifying strategies for the prevention of obesity in children.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-07-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-07-20
• Study First Posted: 2021-07-22
• Study Start: 2021-09-15
• Primary Completion: 2022-02-24
• Status Verified: 2022-03
• Study Completion: 2022-03-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-03-18
• Last Update Posted: 2022-03-21

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 55

Inclusion Criteria

• Children who are enrolled in a scheduled classroom of the participating childcare centers
• Children who are between the ages of 4 and 6 years old at the time of enrollment

Exclusion Criteria

• Children who have tested positive or are showing symptoms of COVID-19, or have recently had potential exposure with a person with COVID-19
• Children who are allergic to any of the foods served
• Children whose diets exclude any of the foods served
• Children who are absent from the childcare center on the acclimation day or both study days
• Children who are not able to serve themselves the two foods that are provided during the acclimation day

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Lower-energy-dense Snack	Snack with energy density less than 1.5 kcal/g	Test snack with lower-energy-dense snack food
Higher-energy-dense Snack	Snack with energy density greater than 1.5 kcal/g	Test snack with higher-energy-dense snack food

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Difference between interventions in the weight of snack food consumed	Study weeks 1 and 2	Weight consumed of snack food in grams
Difference between interventions in the weight of self-served snack food	Study weeks 1 and 2	Weight served of snack food in grams

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Difference between interventions in the volume of snack food consumed	Study weeks 1 and 2	Volume consumed of snack food in milliliters (ml)
Difference between interventions in the energy of self-served snack food	Study weeks 1 and 2	Energy served of snack food in kilocalories (kcal)
Difference between interventions in the volume of self-served snack food	Study weeks 1 and 2	Volume served of snack food in milliliters (ml)
Difference between interventions in the energy of snack food consumed	Study weeks 1 and 2	Energy consumed of snack food in kilocalories (kcal)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Pennsylvania State University; 🇺🇸 University Park, Pennsylvania, United States