SANTA FE, NM – JUNE 21, 2013: Customers buy soft drinks at a food stand at the entrance of a … [+]
American adults eat snacks every day with the same number of calories as a meal, according to a recent study published in PLOS Global Public Health.
The study examined data from more than 23,000 Americans age 30 and older through a 24-hour dietary recall spanning more than a decade in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
According to the study, Americans consumed an average of 400 to 500 calories in snacks per day, which represents about a quarter of the caloric needs of an average adult. In addition, most of the snacks consumed offered very little nutritional value, with the most common snacks consumed including foods high in carbohydrates and fat, sweets and alcoholic beverages.
Although snacking can be part of a balanced diet, excessive snacking can pose a serious threat to public health. As seen in the aforementioned study, common snacks are high in sugar and unhealthy fat and add little to one’s overall nutritional health. Constantly consuming these types of calories can lead to weight gain, which can always contribute to America’s obesity epidemic.
More than two in five American adults are obese, according to data from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Globally, more than one billion people are obese. These numbers will continue to get worse unless we, as a public, proactively address this issue with more effective nutrition, diet and exercise education. Healthier snack options, such as fruits and vegetables, should replace the more common high-sugar food options that are popular among Americans’ snack options.
Weight gain from snacking can also lead to many chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. For example, obesity is linked to 30 to 53 percent of new cases of diabetes each year in the U.S., according to data from the American Heart Association. These chronic diseases are largely preventable through lifestyle changes and the choices we make around diet and exercise.
Unhealthy snacking could also have a profound effect on the health of children and adolescents. Snacking can often be common for both children and adults, but especially for children when engaging in activities such as watching television. Children are also exposed to unhealthy snack marketing on TV, which could potentially influence their dietary decisions about which snacks to consume. Nearly 15 million American children and teens are obese, according to data from the CDC. These numbers could increase in the future if the national trend of unhealthy snacking is not addressed.
Finally, snacking on foods high in sugar and fat can also pose risks to dental health. For example, high-sugar snacks feed the bacteria normally found in the mouth. When these bacteria break down sugars in the mouth, they produce acids that can lead to plaque formation. As time goes by, plates can lead to caries formation and eventually caries.
Although unhealthy snacking can pose serious risks to a person’s overall health and well-being, snacking can also be part of a balanced diet if the foods chosen have a high nutritional content. Such foods would include whole grains, fruits and vegetables to name a few options.
Ultimately, promoting awareness of the healthiest snack can help address America’s snacking problem. This includes promoting environments that promote healthier snacking options, such as in schools and workplaces, as well as educating children early on about developing healthy snacking habits. A concerted effort among parents, children, educators and food manufacturers can help reverse the trend toward healthy snacking for Americans.
