The Effect of Snack Consumption on Energy Intake in Preschoolers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

Official Title
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The Effect of Snack Consumption on Energy Intake in Preschoolers

Conditions
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Energy Intake, Snacks, Children, Preschool

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Snacking
* Behavioral: No Snacking


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 3 Years
Maximum Age: 5 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Three Meals (TM)<br>Preschoolers will be provided their caloric needs within three meals. | Behavioral: No Snacking<br>* Caloric needs will be provided to preschoolers within three meals<br>|
| Active Comparator: Meal plus Snack (M+S)<br>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. | Behavioral: Snacking<br>* Snacks will be provided to preschoolers, either as part of total caloric needs or above total caloric needs<br>|
| Active Comparator: Three Meal plus Snack (TM+S)<br>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. | Behavioral: Snacking<br>* Snacks will be provided to preschoolers, either as part of total caloric needs or above total caloric needs<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total calories of the food and beverages consumed. | Total calories of food and beverage consumed by participants over the 3-week study (with 1 day of food and beverage per week) period will be determined by subtracting pre- and post-consumption weight of the food and beverage provided and multiplied by the energy density of each respective food and beverage. | 3 weeks |