Snacks Constitute a Quarter of Daily Calories for US Adults, Study Finds

Researchers highlight the need for healthier snacking patterns, as snacks contribute little nutritional value while making up a significant portion of daily calorie intake.

Snacks constitute almost a quarter of a day's calories in U.S. adults and account for about one-third of daily added sugar, a new study suggests.
Americans averaged about 400 to 500 calories in snacks a day - often more than what they consumed at breakfast - that offered little nutritional value.
Survey participants who were controlling their type 2 diabetes ate fewer sugary foods and snacked less overall than participants without diabetes and those whose blood sugar levels indicated they were prediabetic.
Researchers analyzed data from 23,708 U.S. adults over 30 years of age who had participated from 2005 to 2016 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Among the whole survey sample, snacks accounted for between 19.5% and 22.4% of total energy intake - while contributing very little nutritional quality.