The Effect of Snack Consumption on Energy Intake in Preschoolers

NCT ID: NCT02207049

Last Updated: 2025-04-03

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-09-30

Study Completion Date

2025-12-31

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.

Conditions

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Energy Intake Snacks Children, Preschool

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Three Meals (TM)

Preschoolers will be provided their caloric needs within three meals.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

No Snacking

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Caloric needs will be provided to preschoolers within three meals

Meal plus Snack (M+S)

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.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Snacking

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Snacks will be provided to preschoolers, either as part of total caloric needs or above total caloric needs

Three Meal plus Snack (TM+S)

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.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Snacking

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Snacks will be provided to preschoolers, either as part of total caloric needs or above total caloric needs

Interventions

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Snacking

Snacks will be provided to preschoolers, either as part of total caloric needs or above total caloric needs

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

No Snacking

Caloric needs will be provided to preschoolers within three meals

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

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
Minimum Eligible Age

3 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

5 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Hollie Raynor

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Hollie A Raynor, PhD, RD, LDN

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Tennesseem Knoxville

Locations

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Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Allen RE, Myers AL. Nutrition in toddlers. Am Fam Physician. 2006 Nov 1;74(9):1527-32.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17111891 (View on PubMed)

Smith-Petersen MN, Larson CB, Cochran W. Local chemotherapy with primary closure of septic wounds by means of drainage and irrigation cannulae : M. N. Smith-Petersen MD (1886-1953), Carroll B. Larson MD, Williams Cochran MD . The 12th president of the AAOS 1943 (MNS-P). Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2008 Jan;466(1):104-12. doi: 10.1007/s11999-007-0023-4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18196379 (View on PubMed)

Ford CN, Slining MM, Popkin BM. Trends in dietary intake among US 2- to 6-year-old children, 1989-2008. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013 Jan;113(1):35-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2012.08.022.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23260722 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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9564 B

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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