Snacking Behaviors and Quality of Snack Intake in US Overweight College Students During COVID-19 Pandemic

OBJECTIVES: To assess snacking behaviors and their associations with quality of snack intake in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of the baseline data from the Snackability app Trial. The Snackability app scores the snacks based on the USDA snacking guideline. Socio-demographics (age, gender, income), food security, stress levels, and snacking behaviors (type of snacks more accessible, knowledge of how to choose healthy snacks, snacking frequency, and snacking time) were assessed through online questionnaires and dietary recalls via the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour, version 2020. Snacks were identified from the recalls, scored using the Snackability app scoring system, and categorized into unhealthy (≤5.750), somewhat healthy (5.751–7.000), healthy (7.001–8.000), and very healthy (8.001–11.000). Logistic regressions were used to associate snacking behaviors and snack scores. Snack scores were also compared by socio-demographics and snacking time (5:00–11:59 AM, 12:00–2:59 PM, 3:00–5:59 PM, and 6:00 PM-4:59 AM) using Kruskal–Wallis. RESULTS: A total of 140 college students (18–24 years) were included in this analysis; 125/140 reported consuming snacks. Median age was 21 years and BMI was 28.5 kg/m(2). Most were female (85.7%), with a household income < $50,000 (51.4%), high food security (71.4%), and medium stress level (49.3%). Most consumed somewhat healthy snacks (29.6%). Knowledge, income, food security, and stress level were not significantly associated with snack scores. Those who consumed snacks more frequently (≥2 times per day) had higher odds of consuming healthy snacks (OR 4.00; 95% CI 1.26, 12.72; P < 0.05) compared to snacking 1 time per day and those with more accessibility/availability of unhealthy snacks had higher odds of consuming unhealthy snacks (OR 4.76; 95% CI 1.52, 14.95; P < 0.05) compared to accessibility/availability of healthy snacks. Evening snack scores were significantly lower than morning snacks (5:00 am–11:59 am) and afternoon snacks (3:00–5:59 pm) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Snacking frequency, accessibility and availability of unhealthy snacks, and snacking time were significantly associated with snack scores. FUNDING SOURCES: Internal funds from Florida International University.