Eating Patterns in a Free-Living Healthy U. S. Adult Population

Yunsheng Ma, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Elizabeth R. Bertone-Johnson, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Edward J. Stanek III, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
George W. Reed, University of Massachusetts Medical School
James R. Hebert, University of South Carolina
Nancy L. Cohen, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Barbara C. Olendzki, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Milagros C. Rosal, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Philip A. Merriam, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Ira S. Ockene, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to describe eating patterns (e.g., breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacking, number of eating episodes, temporal patterns of eating across the 24-hour day, and the frequency of eating out) in a healthy U.S. population in order to provide a basis for future studies on the association between eating patterns and disease. Twenty-four hour dietary recalls were used to assess eating patterns, and cross-sectional analyses were conducted. Ninety-six percent of subjects usually consumed breakfast, 78% consumed lunch, 95% consumed dinner, and 60% consumed snacks. On average, participants ate 3.92 times daily (standard deviation(SD)=0.8). Caloric intake on weekend days was significantly greater than on weekdays. There was a tendency of participants to eat meals frequently outside of the home.