Snacking Energy-dense Food Related to Childhood Obesity

Abstract

Purpose: Aims to observe the relation of the pattern of energy-dense food consumption, snacking, and access to food with the obesity in children aged 9-12 years. Design/methodology/approach: A cross sectional study done in elementary school in Surabaya, Indonesia involving 110 students. Pattern of energy-dense food consumption was retrieved from FFQ and energy from snacking was collected through repeated 24 hours food recall. Linear regression analysis was performed with α =0.05. Findings: Obesity prevalence was 50.0% and obese children proved to have higher energy intake compared to non-obese children (2131.7 kcal ± 405.758 SD vs. 1753.4 kcal ± 452.673 SD, respectively). Energy-dense food consumption pattern that related to obesity was consumption of chocolate (p=0.028; R 2 =0.044); white sugar (p=0.017; R 2 =0.051); snack bar (p=0.014; R 2 =0.055); fried foods (p=0.001; R 2 =0.096); sweetened condensed milk (p=0.022; R 2 =0.048); fruit syrup (p=0.008; R 2 =0.063); and biscuits (p=0.029; R 2 =0.044). Highest frequency of energy-dense food intake was flavoured drinks with intake as much as 27 times per month (p=0.051). Energy intake from snacking also found to be higher in obese children (698.6 kcal ± 275180 SD) compared to non-obese children (494.9 kcal ± 280.952 SD). Research limitations/implications: An observational study hence causation between variables cannot be justified. Practical implications: The result can be referred as an input for the inclusion and exclusion of foods permitted at school-setting in order to prevent childhood obesity. Originality/value: The result adds more evidence related to school food environment in urban developing country setting which are under studied.