Frequency of eating occasions and weight change in the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of frequency of eating occasions with prospective, and retrospective weight change.


METHODS
Data from the NHANES I (1971-75) Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (NHEFS, 1982-84) (n = 7147) was used. Weight change was defined as the difference between the weight measured at follow-up in 1982-84 and the weight measured at baseline in 1971-75. Baseline frequency of eating occasions was estimated by summation of actual times at which food was reported consumed in a 24-h dietary recall. Follow-up frequency of eating was estimated from subject responses at follow-up to number of meals and snacks consumed daily.


RESULTS
Men and women reported (mean +/- s.e.) baseline frequency of 5.3 +/- 0.06 and 4.9 +/- 0.03 eating occasions, respectively. Frequency of eating occasions at follow-up was 3.6 +/- 0.02 occasions in both men and women. Baseline body mass index and frequency of eating were inversely related in multivariate regression analyses in both men and women (P < 0.02). Regression analyses adjusted for multiple covariates showed no association between weight change and frequency of eating at baseline or follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Baseline frequency and subsequent weight change or follow-up frequency and preceding weight change were unrelated in the NHEFS cohort.
Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing 11367, USA.
A K
AK
Kant
A
A
Schatzkin
B I
BI
Graubard
R
R
Ballard-Barbash
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*