Dietary intakes, eating style and overweight in the Stanislas Family Study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the eating patterns of members of French families and to assess the relationships between dietary intakes, eating style and overweight.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of nutritional and behavioural characteristics.


METHODS
1,320 members of 387 families (age 11-65y) attending the Centre for Preventive Medicine for a routine medical check-up.


METHODS
Individual body weight and height were measured. Food intake was assessed using a three day dietary record. Eating style was measured using the French validated version of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire.


RESULTS
In each of the four groups (men, women, boys and girls), dietary restraint was positively correlated with overweight (P< or =0.001) and associated with lower energy intakes (P < or = 0.05-P < or = 0.001). A negative association between energy intake and overweight was found in girls only (P< or =0.001). In all cases, overweight and dietary restraint exaggerated any existing macronutrient imbalance in energy intake (ie higher protein and fat contributions, lower carbohydrate contribution). Emotional eating was positively correlated to body mass index in women only (P< or =0.01). External eating was mainly a characteristic of children (P< or =0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
As in overweight subjects, clear relationships were found in this sample of general population between dietary intakes and eating style. The population will be followed up for 10y. In the long term, these results should have implications in the prevention of obesity.
Lluch
A
A
BioPsychology Group, School of Psychology, University of Leeds, UK.
Herbeth
B
B
Méjean
L
L
Siest
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012737:Sex Factors