Energy intake and other determinants of relative weight.
The relationships of relative weight to energy intake and to physical activity were studied among 141 females aged 34-59 y. As observed in previous studies Quetelet index (wt/ht2) was inversely related to energy intake (r = -0.11). However, obese women tended to be older (r = 0.16), exercise less (r = -0.30), and drink less alcohol (r = -0.16) than nonobese women. Older women had lower energy intake (r = -0.23) and exercised less (r = -0.12) than younger women. Energy intake and physical activity were positively related (r = 0.23). After adjustment for age, physical activity, alcohol, and smoking, the inverse correlation between relative weight and energy intake was significantly reduced (p = 0.04) from r = -0.11 to r = -0.02. Obese women reported higher intakes of total fat, and relative weight was significantly correlated with intakes of total fat (r = 0.20) and saturated fatty acids (r = 0.16). These data highlight the importance of considering factors that may confound the relationship between energy intake and obesity, and they suggest that fat intake may play a role in obesity that is independent of total energy intake.
Romieu
I
I
Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
Willett
W C
WC
Stampfer
M J
MJ
Colditz
G A
GA
Sampson
L
L
Rosner
B
B
Hennekens
C H
CH
Speizer
F E
FE
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001835:Body Weight; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012907:Smoking
D004041:Dietary Fats