U.S. adults and child snacking patterns among sugar-sweetened beverage drinkers and non-drinkers

• We used a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults and children.
• We described snack patterns for sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) drinkers and non-SSB drinkers.
• Individuals who drink SSBs are more likely to snack than non-SSB drinkers.
• Individuals who drink SSBs consume more calories from snacks than non-SSB drinkers.
• All ages are more likely to consume sweet snacks at home.

ObjectiveTo provide national estimates of snack patterns for sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) drinkers and non-SSB drinkers among U.S. children and adults.MethodsWe analyzed 24-h dietary recall data obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2010 among children (ages 2 to 19) and adults (aged 20 and older) (N = 46,932).ResultsFor children and adults, SSB drinkers were significantly more likely than non-SSB drinkers to consume snacks (children: salty, 60% vs. 50%; sweet, 69% vs. 65%; adults: salty, 64% vs. 58%; sweet, 64% vs. 58%), calories from snacks (children: salty snacks, 258 vs. 213 kcal; sweet snacks, 322 vs. 291 kcal; adults: salty snacks, 261 vs. 236 kcal; sweet snacks, 370 vs. 350 kcal), and total calories (children: 2098 vs. 1804 kcal; adults: 2329 vs. 2049 kcal) (p < 0.05). Among adolescents, Blacks had a significantly higher percentage of SSB drinkers and salty snack consumers than Whites and Hispanics (SSB consumers: White, 79%; Black, 86%; Hispanic, 82%; salty snack consumers: White, 56%; Black, 62%; Hispanic, 54%; p < 0.05). All ages were more likely to consume sweet snacks at home (p < 0.05).ConclusionsAdults and children who drink SSBs are more likely to snack and consume more calories from snacks than non-SSB drinkers, particularly Black adolescents and young adults.