Table 3.

Odds of overweight/obesity by number of daily snacks among US children 1‐5 y

Daily occasionsa	n	OR	95% CI		Predicted probability (%)	P
Snacks b
< 2 y c
0‐1 snacks	278	1.4	0.4	4.6	13.9	0.55
2‐3 snacks	440	ref	—	—	10.4	—
4 + snacks	91	10.2	2.7	37.9	46.3	< 0.01
≥ 2 y d
0‐1 snacks	1,371	0.9	0.6	1.2	20.1	0.35
2‐3 snacks	2,060	ref	—	—	22.7	—
4 + snacks	429	1.1	0.6	1.7	23.7	0.83
Snacks, removing < 5‐kcal occasions
< 2 y
0‐1 snacks	284	1.4	0.4	4.5	13.6	0.56
2‐3 snacks	442	ref	—	—	10.4	—
4 + snacks	83	14.4	3.6	57.2	52.8	< 0.01
≥ 2 y
0‐1 snacks	1,410	0.9	0.6	1.2	20.3	0.42
2‐3 snacks	2,044	ref	—	—	22.3	—
4 + snacks	406	1.1	0.7	1.9	24.4	0.62
Snacks + other eating between meals e
< 2 y
0‐1 snacks	86	0.3	0.1	1.2	4.5	0.09
2‐3 snacks	373	ref	—	—	12.0	—
4 + snacks	350	1.8	0.8	4.0	18.7	0.12
≥ 2 y
0‐1 snacks	609	0.7	0.5	1.0	16.2	0.03
2‐3 snacks	2,001	ref	—	—	22.2	—
4 + snacks	1,250	1.1	0.8	1.4	23.6	0.55
Snacks + other eating between meals, removing < 5‐kcal occasions
< 2 y
0‐1 snacks	123	1.2	0.2	8.0	12.6	0.82
2‐3 snacks	417	ref	—	—	10.7	—
4 + snacks	269	3.0	1.3	6.7	23.8	< 0.01
≥ 2 y
0‐1 snacks	976	0.9	0.6	1.3	20.0	0.57
2‐3 snacks	2,088	ref	—	—	21.5	—
4 + snacks	796	1.2	0.9	1.7	24.9	0.25

Adjusted for dietary weights, survey cycle year, child race, HH age, HH marital status, HH level of education, RIP, EI/EER ratio, mean snack size, mean snack energy density.

^aPer AAP guidance: 2‐3 snacks per day reference for both age groups.

^bSnacks = eating occasions identified by caregivers as snacks.

^cOverweight among children < 2 y = weight for length ≥ 97.7th percentile 17, 27.

^dOverweight/obesity among children ≥ 2 y = BMI for age ≥ 85th percentile 17, 29.

^eOther eating between meals = eating occasions identified by caregivers as beverages and extended consumption.

AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics; EI/EER, reported energy intake to estimated energy requirements; HH, head of household; OR, odds ratio; ref, reference value; RIP, ratio of income to poverty; —, not applicable.