title: Snacking may improve physical function among older Americans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Snacking was reported to provide nutritional benefits among older adults, but the association between such dietary behavior and health outcomes has not been clearly established. The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between snacking and gait speed, a performance-based measure of physical function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional population-based survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationally representative sample of Americans aged 60 and older（n = 2,333).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were classified by snacking frequency (0, 1, 2, 3, ≥4 snacks/d) and by the contribution of snacking to their daily energy intake (0 to <10%, 10% to <20%, 20% to <30%, ≥30%). Physical function was assessed by measurement of gait speed over 20 feet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for age, gender, education, race/ethnicity, smoking status, and marital status, older adults who snacked four times or more daily had a faster gait speed (P = 0.033) than non-snackers. Snacking that contributed 20% to <30% (P = 0.017) of energy was associated with a faster gait speed than snacking that contributed 0 to <10% of energy. Similar associations were observed after further adjustment for potential confounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both snacking frequency and percentage of energy from snacking are positively associated with gait speed among older adults. The benefits of snacking on older adults' physical function may warrant their inclusion in this population's diet.
authors.affiliation: Medical Informatics Center, Peking University, Beijing, China. xubeibe@gmail.com
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Zizza
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D062410:Snacks; D014481:United States
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