Santa Fe, New Mexico – June 21, 2013: Customers purchase snacks at a food stall at the entrance of a restaurant. … [+]
A recent study published in PLOS Global Public Health found that American adults consume one serving of calories each day from snacks.
The study examined data from more than 23,000 Americans age 30 and older through 24-hour recall dietary surveys in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning more than a decade.
According to this study, Americans consume an average of 400 to 500 calories in snacks per day, which is about a quarter of the average adult’s calorie needs. Additionally, most of the snacks consumed had little nutritional value, and the most commonly consumed snacks included carbohydrate- and fatty-rich foods, sweets, and alcoholic beverages.
Although snacking is part of a balanced diet, excessive snacking can pose a serious threat to public health. As shown in the aforementioned studies, common snacks are high in sugar and unhealthy fats and have little impact on your overall nutritional health. Consistently consuming these types of calories can lead to weight gain, which may always contribute to the obesity epidemic in America.
More than two in five American adults are obese, according to data from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Worldwide he over 1 billion people are obese. Unless we as a people proactively address this issue with more impactful education on nutrition, diet, and exercise, these numbers will continue to get worse. Healthier snacking options such as fruits and vegetables should replace the more common choices of high-sugar foods that are popular snacking choices for Americans.
Weight gain from snacking can also lead to chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. As an example, obesity is linked to 30 to 53 percent of new diabetes cases in the United States each year, according to data from the American Heart Association. These chronic diseases are largely preventable through lifestyle modifications and choices regarding diet and exercise.
Unhealthy snacking can also have a serious impact on the health of children and adolescents. Snacking is often habitual for both children and adults, but especially occurs when the child is engaged in an activity such as watching television. Children are also exposed to unhealthy snack marketing on television, which can influence their dietary decisions about which snacks to consume. According to CDC data, approximately 15 million American children and adolescents are obese. If we don’t address the national trend of unhealthy snacking, these numbers are likely to grow even further in the future.
Finally, snacking on sugary and fatty foods can also pose a risk to your dental health. As an example, sugary snacks feed the bacteria that lives in your mouth. When these bacteria break down the sugars in your mouth, they produce acids that lead to plaque formation. Over time, plaque can lead to the formation of cavities and eventually cavities.
Although unhealthy snacking can pose serious risks to your overall health and well-being, snacking can also be part of a balanced diet if the foods you choose are nutritious. Such foods include whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, to name a few options.
Ultimately, raising awareness about healthier snacking options could help solve America’s snacking problem. This includes promoting environments that encourage healthier snacking options, such as schools and workplaces, and educating children early on about developing healthy snacking habits. . By working together, parents, children, educators, and food manufacturers can change the game in making healthy snacking available to Americans.
