Is dietary intake able to explain differences in body fatness in children and adolescents?

Full Abstract

Obesity is the result of an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Controversial information exists about what are the strongest energy balance aspects influencing body fatness. This article is focused on food consumption facts that could be related to the risk of being obese in children and adolescents. It reviews whether energy intake, macronutrient composition of diet, eating patterns or other dietary intake factors are able to explain differences in body composition when obesity has been already developed or even in subjects at risk to become obese. There is not enough evidence to clarify the importance of diet on overweight children and adolescents, and conclusions derived are somewhat controversial. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies do not show clear relationships between energy intake or food composition and body fatness. To find relations between dietary factors and childhood obesity perhaps eating patterns or different types of foods must be considered:
meal patterns and meal frequency, snacking and beverage consumption, fast food intake, portion sizes, etc. There is no clear association between different aspects of dietary intake and the development of obesity in children and adolescents. Longitudinal and experimental studies are needed in the future.

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Author information

Author/s: Rodríguez, Gerardo (G); Moreno, Luis A (LA);

Affiliation: Departmento de Pediatría, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. gereva(-atsign-)comz.org

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD (Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-May; vol 16 (issue 4) : pp 294-301

Dates: Created 2006/05/08; Completed 2006/08/28;

PMID: 16679222, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Body Fat Distribution
Child
Child, Preschool
Diet
Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage
Dietary Fats - administration & dosage
Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage

Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage
Energy Intake - physiology
Female
Genotype
Humans
Male
Obesity - metabolism
Phenotype

Associated Chemicals: Dietary Carbohydrates (0) ; Dietary Fats (0) ; Dietary Proteins (0)

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