J Acad Nutr Diet. 2021 Nov 17:S2212-2672(21)01470-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2021.11.008. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Evening eating has been associated with higher energy intake and lower nutrient density. However, these qualities may not characterize all late evening (LE) eating patterns.
OBJECTIVE: We sought to characterize U.S. adults’ LE eating patterns on a given day and identify differences, if any, in pattern-specific associations with, and impact on, daily energy intake and total diet quality.
DESIGN: LE eating patterns, energy intakes, and HEI scores were identified using Day-1 dietary recall data from the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016.
PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: The sample included adults age ≥20 years (n=9,861). “LE reporters” were respondents who consumed foods/beverages between 20:00 h and 23:59 h on the intake day.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Energy intake and HEI-2015 scores by LE status/pattern and the impact of LE consumption on these measures.
STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Cluster analysis assigned individuals to LE eating patterns based on the LE energy contribution of food/beverage groups. Regression models estimated energy intake and HEI-2015 scores; estimates were compared between LE reporters and non-reporters. Similarly, LE’s contribution to total energy and the difference in total HEI inclusive versus exclusive of LE consumption were estimated and compared among patterns.
RESULTS: Among U.S adults, 64.4% were LE reporters. Eleven LE patterns were identified; the six most prevalent patterns (representing 89% of LE reporters) were further analyzed. Daily energy intake in all prevalent patterns except the fruit pattern exceeded that of non-reporters by ≥268 kcal (unadjusted; p<0.001), varying by pattern. Conversely, total HEI score did not differ from that of non-reporters (51.0) in any pattern except the fruit pattern, where it was higher (57.4, unadjusted; p<0.001). Generally, LE consumption’s impact on energy was high and its impact on HEI scores was low.
CONCLUSIONS: Late evening food/beverage consumption is common among U.S. adults, and LE patterns are not monolithic in their associations with, and impact on, total energy intake and dietary quality.
PMID:34800696 | DOI:10.1016/j.jand.2021.11.008
