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Am J Epidemiol 2003; 158:85-92.
Copyright © 2003 by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health


ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Association between Eating Patterns and Obesity in a Free-living US Adult Population

Yunsheng Ma1 , Elizabeth R. Bertone2, Edward J. Stanek, III2, George W. Reed1, James R. Hebert3, Nancy L. Cohen4, Philip A. Merriam1 and Ira S. Ockene5

1 Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA.
2 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Amherst, MA.
3 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
4 Department of Nutrition, University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Amherst, MA.
5 Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA.

Some studies have suggested that eating patterns, which describe eating frequency, the temporal distribution of eating events across the day, breakfast skipping, and the frequency of eating meals away from home, may be related to obesity. Data from the Seasonal Variation of Blood Cholesterol Study (1994–1998) were used to evaluate the relation between eating patterns and obesity. Three 24-hour dietary recalls and a body weight measurement were collected at five equally spaced time points over a 1-year period from 499 participants. Data were averaged for five time periods, and a cross-sectional analysis was conducted. Odds ratios were adjusted for other obesity risk factors including age, sex, physical activity, and total energy intake. Results indicate that a greater number of eating episodes each day was associated with a lower risk of obesity (odds ratio for four or more eating episodes vs. three or fewer = 0.55, 95% confidence interval: 0.33, 0.91). In contrast, skipping breakfast was associated with increased prevalence of obesity (odds ratio = 4.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.57, 12.90), as was greater frequency of eating breakfast or dinner away from home. Further investigation of these associations in prospective studies is warranted.

eating; obesity; odds ratio

Abbreviations: Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; MET, metabolic equivalent; SD, standard deviation; SEASONS, Seasonal Variation of Blood Cholesterol Study.


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