Association of candy consumption with body weight measures, other health risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and diet quality in US children and adolescents: NHANES 1999-2004

  • Carol E. O'Neil Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
  • Victor L. Fulgoni III Nutrition Impact, LLC
  • Theresa A. Nicklas USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center; Baylor College of Medicine
Keywords: Children, Candy, Chocolate, Added Sugars, Discretionary Calories, Nutrient Intake, Dietary Adequacy, Health Risk Factors, Healthy Eating Index, NHANES

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of total, chocolate, or sugar candy consumption on intakes of total energy, fat, and added sugars; diet quality; weight/adiposity parameters; and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in children 2-13 years of age (n=7,049) and adolescents 14-18 years (n=4,132) participating in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods: Twenty-four hour dietary recalls were used to determine intake. Diet quality was determined using the Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005). Covariate-adjusted means, standard errors, and prevalence rates were determined for each candy consumption group. Odds ratios were used to determine the likelihood of associations with weight status and diet quality. Results: In younger children, total, chocolate, and sugar candy consumption was 11.4 g±1.61, 4.8 g±0.35, and 6.6 g±0.46, respectively. In adolescents, total, chocolate, and sugar candy consumption was 13.0 g±0.87, 7.0 g±0.56, and 5.9 g±0.56, respectively. Total candy consumers had higher intakes of total energy (2248.9 kcals±26.8 vs 1993.1 kcals±15.1, p<0.0001) and added sugars (27.7 g±0.44 vs 23.4 g±0.38, p<0.0001) than non-consumers. Mean HEI-2005 score was not different in total candy and sugar candy consumers as compared to non-consumers, but was significantly lower in chocolate candy consumers (46.7±0.8 vs 48.3±0.4, p=0.0337). Weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, percentiles/z-score for weight-for-age and BMI-for-age were lower for candy consumers as compared to non-consumers. Candy consumers were 22 and 26%, respectively, less likely to be overweight and obese than non-candy consumers. Blood pressure, blood lipid levels, and cardiovascular risk factors were not different between total, chocolate, and sugar candy consumers and non-consumers (except that sugar candy consumers had lower C-reactive protein levels than non-consumers). Conclusion: This study suggests that candy consumption did not adversely affect health risk markers in children and adolescents.

Keywords: children; adolescents; candy; chocolate; sugar candy; added sugars; discretionary calories; nutrient intake; dietary adequacy; health risk factors; healthy eating index; NHANES

(Published: 14 June 2011)

Citation: Food & Nutrition Research 2011. 55, 5794 - DOI: 10.3402/fnr.v55i0.5794

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Author Biographies

Carol E. O'Neil, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

Class of 1941 Alumni Professor

School of Human Ecology

Victor L. Fulgoni III, Nutrition Impact, LLC
Senior Vice President / Statistician
Theresa A. Nicklas, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center; Baylor College of Medicine

Professor

Department of Pediatrics

Published
2011-06-14
How to Cite
O’Neil C. E., Fulgoni III V. L., & Nicklas T. A. (2011). Association of candy consumption with body weight measures, other health risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and diet quality in US children and adolescents: NHANES 1999-2004. Food & Nutrition Research. https://doi.org/10.3402/fnr.v55i0.5794
Section
Original Articles

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