The Effect of Snack Consumption on Energy Intake in Preschoolers

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Energy Intake; Children, Preschool; Snacks

Treatments: Behavioral: No Snacking; Behavioral: Snacking

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02207049

9564 B

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 3 to 5 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 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

Exclusion criteria

• have allergies or intolerances to the foods being served
• not able to use a spoon
• did not attend all feeding sessions

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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20 participants in 3 patient groups

Three Meals (TM)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Preschoolers will be provided their caloric needs within three meals.

Treatment:

Behavioral: No Snacking

Meal plus Snack (M+S)

Active Comparator group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Snacking

Three Meal plus Snack (TM+S)

Active Comparator group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Snacking