Fewer small snacks at any time may improve diet quality but not body fat in British children and teens

A total of 1,636 British children and adolescents were examined for associations between meal frequency and snack frequency with dietary intake and obesity measures.

• All measures of meal frequency and snack frequency showed positive associations with energy intake, except for meal frequency based on energy contribution in children.
• Snack frequency was linked to higher intakes of soft drinks, confectionery, and total sugar, while lower intakes of cereals, fish, meat, protein, healthy fats, starch, and dietary fiber were observed.
• Snack frequency was associated with lower diet quality, as assessed by the Mediterranean diet score, except for snack frequency based on energy contribution in adolescents.
• Meal frequency based on time was associated with higher intakes of confectionery and total sugar, and lower intakes of fish, protein, healthy fats, and starch, leading to poorer diet quality in children.
• No associations were found between meal frequency or snack frequency and measures of adiposity in this population.

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