40-Year Trends in Meal and Snack Eating Behaviors of American Adults

Summary

This observational study analysed 40 years of nationally representative dietary data (1971–2010, n=62,298 US adults) to characterise temporal trends in meal and snacking behaviours. Key findings included declining frequency of reporting all three main meals, increased snacking (particularly between lunch and dinner), later timing of breakfast and lunch, and shorter intervals between dinner and after-dinner snacks. Changes in snacking patterns were more pronounced in women, suggesting gender-specific shifts in eating behaviour over four decades.

Regional applicability

This study is US-specific and reflects American dietary patterns and food environments over the 1971–2010 period. Whilst the methodological approach of tracking eating behaviour trends over time is transferable to UK contexts, the specific findings (meal timing, snacking patterns, energy distribution) reflect US dietary habits and may not directly apply to United Kingdom populations, which have distinct meal cultures and food availability patterns.

Key measures

Percentage of reporters for each meal/snack category; relative contribution of snacks to 24-hour energy intake; clock time of eating occasions; intermeal and inter-snack intervals; logistic and linear regression analyses adjusted for complex survey design

Outcomes reported

The study examined temporal trends in meal and snack eating behaviours, including frequency of reporting main meals, contribution to daily energy intake, timing of meals, and intervals between eating occasions across 40 years of national dietary survey data. Changes in meal skipping, snacking patterns, meal timing, and gender-specific differences in snacking behaviours were documented.

Topic tags