Snack Consumption Patterns and Its Nutritional Significance in Korean Elderly Population: from the 2013-2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the importance of snacks to a balanced diet by assessing snack consumption patterns and factors associated with eating snacks of Korean elders of 60 years or more. METHODS: This analysis is based on participants from the 2013-2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Meal or snack consumption was based on a 24 hours recall data, and the adequacy of each nutrient intake was based on the Dietary Reference Intakes by the Korea Nutrition Society. The cutoff for snack consumption valued as meaningful was more than 200 kcal/day of snack energy intake. RESULTS: Korean male elders of age 60 years or more are consuming 333.6±11.1 kcal of snack and 271.7±7.4 kcal for females. When consumed together with meals, snack consumption increased the adequacy of all nutrients intake, except sodium. Based on energy contribution, male Korean elders are consuming snack food group in order of beverage and alcohols, grains, and fruits, while for females the order was grains, fruits, and dairy. Older age (men and women), joblessness (men), and chronic disease (women) were positively associated with having snack of 200 kcal or more per day, whereas ‘living with a partner (men)’, alcohol intake frequency of more than twice per week (men), and ‘doing regular aerobic physical activity (women)’ showed negative association. CONCLUSIONS: Snack consumption of Korean elders contributed to more adequate nutritional status, but improvement of food groups is needed because they were mainly concentrated on grains.