Biomedical subjects

B M Popkin

Publications and source records attributed to B M Popkin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Cross-sectional comparison of physical activity and inactivity patterns in Chinese and Filipino youth.

BACKGROUND: To compare and contrast youth physical activity (PA) and inactivity patterns in two developing Asian countries: the Philippines and China. METHODS: Comparative analysis of 1997-1999 Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey and the 1997 China Health and Nutrition Survey, large-scale surveys that included questions on type, frequency and duration of: commuting mode to school, sports/exercise in and outside of school, select sedentary activities and chores. RESULTS: Filipino data included 760 males and 872 females aged 14-16 years. The comparable Chinese sample consisted of 202 males and 197 females. Active commuting is proportionately high in both countries (70-71% in the Philippines vs. 77-90% in China), although commuting by bicycling is rare in the Philippines (<1%) vs. China ( approximately 35%). Patterns of school sport/exercise participation differ between countries by gender; more Filipino males report school sport/exercise than females (63 vs. 49%) vs. China, where more females participate than males (75 vs. 69%). Sport/exercise outside of school is proportionately low (6-12%) for youth from both countries with a single exception: 74% of Filipino males participate in extra-curricular sport/exercise. Although a higher percentage of Filipino youth report watching television >4 h/day (<10%) vs. Chinese youth (<1%), both are lower than comparable US reports. CONCLUSION: In the Philippines, continued modernization augurs a decrease in local primary PA sources (chores and active commuting). In China, where youth already are not expected to perform chores, shifts to more passive commuting modes (i.e. increased motorized transportation) are anticipated.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2006

The altered fluid distribution in obesity may reflect plasma hypertonicity.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored whether the increased extracellular relative to intracellular fluid (ECF/ICF) ratio in obesity might reflect osmotic effects of elevated plasma solute concentrations. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, epidemiological survey. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: The present analysis used nationally representative data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey on community-dwelling adults (aged 40-59 years) in the US without evidence of glucose dysregulation or chronic disease (n=1285). INTERVENTION: Body mass index (BMI) was estimated from measured height and weight. Total body reactance, an index of body fluid distribution, was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Plasma tonicity (the cumulative index of osmotically effective plasma solute) was estimated from plasma glucose, sodium and potassium. Sex-specific relative odds of lower reactance ( or=295 mmol/l) associated with overweight (25 or=30) were estimated using logistic regression models that controlled for sociodemographic variables, smoking, leisure-time physical activity, total energy intake, serum creatinine, plasma insulin and glucose. Multinomial logistic regression models tested for associations between weight status and specific serum solute. RESULTS: Independent of covariates, in men and women, overweight and obesity were associated with increased odds of lower reactance and hypertonicity. Overweight and obese individuals with lower reactance had significantly higher serum sodium than normal weight individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated plasma solute concentrations are associated with obesity in free-living adults. Physicians and researchers should be alert to a possible link between hypertonicity and obesity. SPONSORSHIP: Grants from the NIH, Nestle Waters.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Trends in the distribution of body mass index among Chinese adults, aged 20-45 years (1989-2000).

OBJECTIVE: To describe body mass index (BMI, in kg/m(2)) distribution patterns and trends among Chinese adults, aged 20-45 years (1989-2000). DESIGN: A descriptive, population-based study of BMI change. SETTING: Chinese provinces (eight in 1989 and 1997; nine in 2000), representative of the household-based surveys (the China Health and Nutrition Survey, 1989-2000) using multistage, random cluster sampling, supplemented with annual household consumption survey data of the State Statistical Bureau (SSB). SUBJECTS: A total of 4527, 4507 and 4046 adults, aged 20-45 years, in 1989, 1997 and 2000, respectively. MEASUREMENTS: BMI (underweight: BMI<18.5 kg/m(2) and overweight: BMI>/=25 kg/m(2)). Percentile curves for BMI in 1989 and 2000 were constructed by gender and age using the LMS (lambda, mu, sigma) method. RESULTS: Compared with 1989, the 2000 BMI distribution curves flattened at higher levels of BMI (men and women). There was a 13.7% increase in the proportion of men and a 7.9% increase of women who were overweight or obese with a resulting greater change in the annualized prevalence rate for men. This increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity was far greater than the decrease (2.1% for men; 2.2% for women) in that of underweight. Age-gender-specific percentile curves showed BMI increases mainly among women, aged 35-45 years, and among men at all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese BMI dynamics show much greater rates of change among men, aged 20-45 years, than among women, with the increase among women concentrated between ages 35 and 45 years. These changes portend large shifts in other diet-related non-communicable diseases in China over the following decades. Controlling the increasing trends of BMI, especially in men, is an important public health problem facing China.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Measuring the full economic costs of diet, physical activity and obesity-related chronic diseases.

Most studies that have focused on the costs of obesity have ignored the direct effects of obesity-related patterns of diet and physical activity. This study reviews the full effects of each component--poor dietary and physical activity patterns and obesity--on morbidity, mortality and productivity. The direct healthcare costs are based on a review of the effects of these factors on key diseases and the related medical care costs of each disease. The indirect costs on reduced disability, mortality and sickness during the period of active labour force participation prior to retirement are also examined. A case study is prepared for China to provide some guidance in the utilization of this review for economic analysis of obesity. The case study shows that the indirect costs are often far more important than the direct medical care costs. The Chinese case study found that the indirect effects of obesity and obesity-related dietary and physical activity patterns range between 3.58% and 8.73% of gross national product (GNP) in 2000 and 2025 respectively.

Absenteeism↗

PubMed2006

Trends in eating behaviours among Chinese children (1991 -1997).

This study examined the trends in snacking behaviours and eating food-prepared-outside-the-home (FPOH) by Chinese children and adolescents using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey. The sample consisted of 3223 subjects aged 6-18 in 1991 and 2836 in 1997. Three days of 24hr recall dietary data and per capita income (deflated to 1989) was used. The percentage of Chinese children having snacking behaviours was significantly differentiated according to the income level while percentage of eating FPOH increased in middle and high income groups. Snacking contributed about 8% of the energy intake (EI) for snackers, compared with over 15% from FPOH for those who ate FPOH. Fruit was a major component of snacking: snacks based on fruit intake almost doubled over the study period as did snacks based on soft drink consumption. Animal source food consumption was a key component of FPOH and its intake also increased.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

The dual burden household and the nutrition transition paradox.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to document the prevalence of households with underweight and overweight persons (henceforth referred to as dual burden households) and their association with income and urban residence. The explorations by urban residence and income will test whether dual burden households differ from 'underweight only' and 'overweight only' households, respectively. These comparisons are relevant to differentiating or adapting nutrition-related interventions wherever obesity and undernutrition cluster at the household level. POPULATION: Data analysis is based on national surveys conducted in Brazil, China, Indonesia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Vietnam and the United States. METHODS: All persons were first classified into categories for underweight and overweight, using body mass index (BMI) cutoffs, and then all households were categorized into four types: dual burden, overweight, underweight and normal. Income and urban residence were explored as key risk factors for being a dual burden household, with the effects modeled separately for each country. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore income and urban risk factors, controlling for household size, region of residence and either urban residence or income, as appropriate. RESULTS: In six of the countries studied, 22-66% of households with an underweight person also had an overweight person. Countries with the highest prevalence of dual burden households were those in the middle range of gross national product (GNP). The dual burden household is easily distinguished from the 'underweight only' households in Brazil, China, Indonesia, the United States and Vietnam. In these five countries dual burden households were more likely to be urban and more likely to be among the highest income tertile. There were no significant differences between dual burden and 'underweight only' households in Russia and the Kyrgyz Republic. In contrast, dual burden households were not easily distinguished from the 'overweight only' households in China, Indonesia, the Kyrgyz Republic, the United States and Vietnam. In Brazil and Russia dual burden households were more likely to be lower income and urban than 'overweight only' households. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dual burden households presents a significant public health concern, particularly for those countries in the middle range of GNP. In some countries (China, Indonesia, the Kyrgyz Republic, the United States and Vietnam), dual burden households share sociodemographic profiles with overweight households, raising concerns for underweight individuals who may inadvertently become the focus of obesity prevention initiatives. For this reason, obesity prevention efforts should focus on messages that are beneficial to the good health of all, such as increasing fruit and vegetable intake, improving overall diet quality and increasing physical activity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Do protein and energy intakes explain long-term changes in body composition?

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence that profiles of protein and energy intake can determine short-term (< 1 y) change in both lean and fat compartments,the role of diet in longer-term, age-related changes in body composition remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This paper tests for long-term counterparts to the well-established short-term relationships between protein and energy intake and changes in body composition. DESIGN: Using longitudinal data on 608 healthy, non-obese Chinese (50-69 y)from the 1993 and 1997 China Health and Nutrition Surveys, sex-specific regression models were created to determine if 3-day mean protein (%of energy) and energy (kJ) intakes at baseline predicted change in mid arm muscle area (MAMA) and waist circumference (WC). RESULTS: Although sex-specific U-shaped associations were observed,higher energy intakes were associated with greater gain in WC and less loss of MAMA, and higher protein intakes with less loss of MAMA than lower intakes for both sexes, adjusting for baseline age, height, weight, MAMA, WC, smoking status, activity level, income and urban residence. For males, energy intake be low 95%of the Chinese RDA was associated with significantly smaller gains in WC and greater loss of MAMA than energy intake between 95-125% RDA. For both sexes, protein intake be low 10.4% of energy was associated with significantly greater loss of MAMA than intake between 10.4-12.1% of energy. For females, energy intake above 125% RDA was associated with significantly greater gains in body fat than intake between 95-125% RDA. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that diet may play an important role in age-related change in body composition.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2004

Patterns of food consumption in Vietnam: effects on socioeconomic groups during an era of economic growth.

OBJECTIVE: To identify if the nutritional status and improvements in Vietnam during the 1990s applied equally to the key vulnerable population groups (poor, rural, and ethnic minority) as it did to the nonpoor-largely in the urban areas. DESIGN: This study used cross-sectional analyses in the context of inequalities occurring in the diets of the poor and nonpoor that accompanied economic improvements during the Vietnam Doi Moi period. SETTING: During the Doi Moi period in Vietnam. SUBJECTS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on data using 23,839 individuals (4800 households) from the Vietnam Living Standard Survey (VLSS) in 1992-1993 and 28,509 individuals (6,002 households) from the Vietnam Living Standard Survey in 1997-1998. Analysis for changes in food consumption was conducted on 17,763 individuals (4,305 households) that were included in both surveys. INTERVENTION: None. RESULTS: After initiation of Doi Moi in 1986, the average Vietnamese person reached the dietary adequacy of 2,100 kcal per day per capita in the early 1990s, but this did not improve during the next decade. The structure of diet shifted to less starchy staples while proteins and lipids (meat, fish, other protein-rich higher fat foods) increased significantly. Although the gap in nutrient intake between the poor and the nonpoor decreased, the proportion of calories from protein- and lipid-rich food for the poor is lower than for the nonpoor. The VLSS data showed that the increase of protein and lipid foods in total energy structure over the 5 y between the VLSS studies for poor households was 0.43% (CI=0.33, 0.53) and 0.47% (CI=0.41, 0.54) lower, respectively, than for nonpoor households (P<0.0001). Inequalities compared to the nonpoor were also found in both quantity and quality of food consumption. For example, poor households consumed (quantity) 127 kcal/day (CI=119, 135) less from meat, and 32 kcal/day (CI=27, 38) less from fats than nonpoor households (P<0.0001), and the proportion of calories consumed (quality) by poor households was 5.8% (CI=5.4, 6.1) less from meat and 0.96% (CI=1.2, 0.7) less from fats than by nonpoor households (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Although the key vulnerable groups-rural, poor, and minority populations-showed improvements in diet, there still remains an inequity between these groups and the nonpoor of the population. In particular, the vulnerable groups consumed less of their daily consumption from the desirable high-quality proteins of animal foods and fats, and more from cereals and other starches-lagging the better-off populations in desired composition.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

PubMed2004

Obesity and inequities in health in the developing world.

OBJECTIVE: To update the social distribution of women's obesity in the developing world and, in particular, to identify the specific level of economic development at which, if any, women's obesity in the developing world starts to fuel inequities in health. DESIGN: Multilevel logistic regression analyses applied to anthropometric and socioeconomic data collected by nationally representative cross-sectional surveys conducted from 1992 to 2000 in 37 developing countries within a wide range of world regions and stages of economic development (gross national product (GNP) from 190 to 4440 US dollars per capita). SUBJECTS: : In total, 148 579 nonpregnant women aged 20-49 y. MEASUREMENTS: Body mass index to assess obesity status; quartiles of years of education to assess woman's socioeconomic status (SES), and GNP per capita to assess country's stage of economic development. RESULTS: Belonging to the lower SES group confers strong protection against obesity in low-income economies, but it is a systematic risk factor for the disease in upper-middle income developing economies. A multilevel logistic model-including an interaction term between the country's GNP and each woman's SES-indicates that obesity starts to fuel health inequities in the developing world when the GNP reaches a value of about 2500 US dollars per capita. CONCLUSIONS: For most upper-middle income economies and part of the lower-middle income economies, obesity among adult women is already a relevant booster of health inequities and, in the absence of concerted national public actions to prevent obesity, economic growth will greatly expand the list of developing countries where this situation occurs.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The nutrition transition: worldwide obesity dynamics and their determinants.

OBJECTIVE: This paper explores the major changes in diet and physical activity patterns around the world and focuses on shifts in obesity. DESIGN: Review of results focusing on large-scale surveys and nationally representative studies of diet, activity, and obesity among adults and children. SUBJECTS: Youth and adults from a range of countries around the world. MEASUREMENTS: The International Obesity Task Force guidelines for defining overweight and obesity are used for youth and the body mass index > or =25 kg/m(2) and 30 cutoffs are used, respectively, for adults. RESULTS: The nutrition transition patterns are examined from the time period termed the receding famine pattern to one dominated by nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases (NR-NCDs). The speed of dietary and activity pattern shifts is great, particularly in the developing world, resulting in major shifts in obesity on a worldwide basis. Data limitations force us to examine data on obesity trends in adults to provide a broader sense of changes in obesity over time, and then to examine the relatively fewer studies on youth. Specifically, this work provides a sense of change both in the United States, Europe, and the lower- and middle-income countries of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. CONCLUSION: The paper shows that changes are occurring at great speed and at earlier stages of the economic and social development of each country. The burden of obesity is shifting towards the poor.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Obesity, diet, and poverty: trends in the Russian transition to market economy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine trends in macronutrient intake, overweight, and obesity. DESIGN: Cross-sectional samples-collected nine times between 1992 and 2000-from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey provide interviewer-administered 24-h diet recalls and measured height and weight, together with detailed information regarding income and expenditures. SETTING: The Russian Federation. SUBJECTS: Women and men, aged 19-55 y. INTERVENTIONS: None. METHODS: A nationally representative sample of working-age Russian adults was stratified by gender and income (per cent of regional poverty level). Secular trends in mean energy and macronutrient intake, as well as prevalence of overweight and obesity in the population are described over the first 8 y of the Russian Federation. RESULTS: Overall, energy intake increased slightly. Fat, as a percentage of energy (E%), decreased from 39.6 to 31.6% and protein, as a per cent of energy, decreased from 14.3 to 12.5%. Overweight (determined by body mass index (BMI) >/=25 kg/m(2)) prevalence remained relatively stable at about 50% and obesity (BMI >/=30 kg/m(2)) prevalence increased from 13.3 to 16.0% of the adult population. Women consumed less energy than men and displayed higher prevalences of overweight and obesity in all time periods. There was an income effect among men in all time periods, with higher-income men consuming more calories, fat, and protein than lower-income men; this effect was not apparent in women except in the proportion of fat and protein intake. CONCLUSIONS: The adult Russian population appears to have escaped macronutrient privation during economic reform and has experienced increasing rates of obesity.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Physical activity and inactivity in Chinese school-aged youth: the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To describe physical activity (PA) and inactivity levels and patterns in Chinese school children (aged 6-18 y). DESIGN: PA and inactivity were assessed in a youth cohort enrolled in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) in 1997. SUBJECTS: A total of 1423 males (11.5+/-3.2 y) and 1252 females (11.5+/-3.3 y). MEASUREMENTS: PA and inactivity were assessed by self-reported usual activity (questionnaire). Children under 10 y were assisted by parents. RESULTS: Approximately 84% of Chinese youth actively commute to school for a median of 100-150 min/week. A total of 72% engage in in-school moderate/vigorous (MOD/VIG) PA for a median of 90-110 min/week. Relatively few children ( approximately 8%) participate in any MOD/VIG PA outside of school. A total of 72% engage in study-related activities outside of school for a median of 420 min/week. Only 8% of Chinese school children, regardless of gender, watch television > or =2 h/day; less than 1% watch > or =4 h/day. Chores related to housework are not a part of life for Chinese school children; fewer than 20% performed these tasks. CONCLUSION: Chinese youth are unique compared to those in other developing countries because they do not perform household chores. Instead, they are under pressure to achieve scholastically. Participation in MOD/VIG PA outside of school is almost nonexistent. Current television watching habits are relatively low compared to developed countries and walking/biking is a common form of commuting. The descriptive analysis herein represents the foundation upon which future longitudinal studies of PA in this population will be based.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Physical activity in Filipino youth: the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To describe physical activity (PA) and inactivity levels of Filipino youth aged 14-16 y. DESIGN: PA type and patterns were assessed in an adolescent cohort enrolled in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey. SUBJECTS: A total of 1053 males (aged 15.6+/-0.5 y; body mass index (BMI)=18.6+/-2.6 kg/m(2)) and 990 females (aged 14.6+/-0.5 y; BMI=18.8+/-2.4 kg/m(2)). MEASUREMENTS: PA was assessed by (1) self-reported usual PA (questionnaire); (2) 24-h objective monitoring (Caltrac accelerometer); and (3) 24 h recalls of PA during the objectively monitored time frame. RESULTS: As measured by Caltrac, males expended 378.0+/-164.5 kcal and females 271.0+/-105.4 kcal. The measurement approaches employed agreed in expected ways, given the limitations of each. Together the approaches used indicated that the primary sources of PA for this population are chores and active commuting. In all, 40% of the sample walked to school, less than 1% rode a bicycle, 22% rode in/on motorized transport, and 37% used some combination of walking and motorized transport. Further, gender differences exist for type, frequency, and duration of physical activities performed by Filipino youth. Specifically, females report engaging in few leisure-time physical activities and more household chores. In total, 48% of Filipino youth report watching > or =2 h/day of television; relatively few youth (7%) report watching >4 h/day at this time. An 18% of males report no vigorous activities compared to 87% of females. CONCLUSION: Clear gender differences in PA patterns and levels exist in Filipino adolescents. Nonsport/exercise type activities (eg chores and active commuting) currently provide a large proportion of daily activity for both males and females, however. It is anticipated that as modernization and technological advancement continue in this developing country, these primary sources of PA will decrease.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

The nutrition transition in Spain: a European Mediterranean country.

BACKGROUND: Mediterranean diets are felt to be healthful diets linked with reduced mortality from diet-related noncommunicable diseases. OBJECTIVE: To examine trends in diet, activity, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases for Spain and compare these with other European countries, particularly those from the Mediterranean area. DESIGN: A combination of large-scale primary and secondary nationally representative data analysis are used. DATA: Nationally representative data on household food consumption, physical activity, adult obesity, and cause of death are combined with regionally representative adolescent obesity data, obtained in the last four decades. Comparative diet and obesity data come from nationally representative comparable data, obtained during the same period. RESULTS: The Spanish diet has shifted toward a very high level of fat intake, high fruit and dairy intake and moderate vegetable intake. Dairy and fruit intakes were the highest in Europe, as was the proportion of energy from fat, when we compared with the available data. Adult overweight and obesity trends show a marked increase in the past decade to levels as high as Italy and far above France. Overweight for children aged 6-7 is above that of even the USA, while adolescent overweight levels are among the highest in the world. Cardiovascular disease mortality is low, as with Italy and France, and the cancer mortality rate is lower than Italy and France. CONCLUSIONS: We have observed that, in Spain, relatively high obesity prevalences and dairy intake levels are related to much lower levels of cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality than are found in other European countries. This unique Spanish dietary and obesity pattern should be further explored in order to clarify the causal links. SUPPORT: The National Institutes of Health (NIH; R01-HD30880 and R01-HD38700).

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Omission of active commuting to school and the prevalence of children's health-related physical activity levels: the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Study.

BACKGROUND: Active commuting to school by walking or bicycle is a potential source of continuous moderate activity for children that has been largely ignored in surveys of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analytical impact of omitting active commuting to school (walking or bicycling) on conclusions about children's physical activity levels. METHODS: The Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Study (RLMS) is the first nationally representative household survey in the Russian Federation. More than 6400 households from all regions of Russia were surveyed eight times between 1992 and 1998. Analysis was conducted using physical activity data (school physical education classes, out-of-school active pursuits and active commuting to school) obtained by parent-proxy on 1094 (572 boys, 522 girls) school-aged Russian children (mean age 10.2 +/- 1.9 years) participating in the November 1998 round of the RLMS. Data were examined according to prevalence of achievement of health-related physical activity guidelines, active commuting to school behaviours included then omitted. RESULTS: Omitting active commuting to school resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of achievement of health-related guidelines from 12% to 20%, similar for both genders. Likewise, the prevalence of sedentarism (defined as not meeting any of the guidelines) was increased by 17-22%. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that, in order to avoid misclassification bias of children's physical activity levels, it is necessary to include questions about mode of commuting to school. The findings also carry practice implications: the commonplace need to get to and from school may be a missed opportunity for children's health-related physical activity in motorized societies.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Where's the fat? Trends in U.S. diets 1965-1996.

BACKGROUND: Controlling fat intake has been an ongoing health concern since the late 1950s. This study examines 30-year trends in food sources of fat intake. It focuses on both total fat and specific fatty acid classes to ascertain if there are trend differences by age, sex, or race/ethnicity. METHODS: Nationally representative cross-sectional U.S. Department of Agriculture surveys from 1965, 1977-1978, 1989-1991, and 1994-1996 form the basis of this analysis, which compares 45,357 adults aged 18 years and older. Food files linked over time are used to create comparable food groups and nutrient values. RESULTS: The proportion of fat in the diet from grain-based mixed dishes, higher-fat snack foods, and higher fat potatoes has increased to partially offset reductions in fat from dairy, red meat, and added fat categories. Food sources of fat differ by race/ethnicity and age. The percentage of fat from fast foods and ethnic foods increased over time from 1 to 11% of total fat. The ratio of visible to invisible fat declined considerably. CONCLUSION: While animal product-based sources of fat continue to require emphasis, the shift toward fast foods, fried foods, and grain-based mixed dish and edible oil sources requires more focus.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Significant increase in young adults' snacking between 1977-1978 and 1994-1996 represents a cause for concern!

BACKGROUND: Studies on children and adolescents suggest a large increase in the role of snacking; however, little is know about changes in the snacking behavior of young adults. METHODS: USDA's nationally representative surveys from 1977-1978 to 1994-1996 are used to study snacking trends among 8,493 persons 19-29 years old. RESULTS: Snacking prevalence increased from 77 to 84% between 1977-1978 and 1994-1996. The nutritional contribution of snacks to total daily energy intake went from 20 to 23%, primarily because energy consumed per snacking occasion increased by 26% and the number of snacks per day increased 14%. The mean daily caloric density (calorie per gram of food) of snacks increased from 1.05 to 1.32 calories. The energy contribution of high-fat desserts to the total calories from snacking decreased (22 to 14%), however, this food group remained the most important source of energy. The energy contribution of high-fat salty snacks doubled. Sweetened and alcoholic beverages remained important energy contributors. CONCLUSION: This large increase in total energy and energy density of snacks among young adults in the United States may be contributing to our obesity epidemic.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Weight gain and its predictors in Chinese adults.

OBJECTIVE: To describe 8 y weight change in Chinese adults and to determine the baseline characteristics of those who gained weight. DESIGN: A population-based cohort study of weight change and its predictors from 1989 to 1997. PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 2488 adults aged 20-45 in 1989 drawn from seven provinces in China using multistage, random cluster sampling. MEASUREMENTS: Weight change over 8 y was the outcome variable. The key exposures were baseline energy intake, physical activity at work, alcohol consumption and smoking status. Baseline weight, weight status, height, age, residence, income and educational attainment were control variables. RESULTS: Overweight (body mass index, BMI>or=25 kg/m(2)) doubled in females (10.4-20.8%) and almost tripled in males (5.0-14.1%). Low physical activity was a strong predictor of weight gain. Compared to those whose weight remained stable (+/-2 kg/8 y), males and females who experienced large weight gain (>5 kg/8 y) were 3 and 1.8 times more likely to engage in light rather than heavy work-related physical activity. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of overweight increased dramatically in this cohort. Light work-related physical activity was the strongest predictor of this weight gain.

Activities of Daily Living↗