Energy density, energy intake and weight status in a large free-living sample of Chinese adults: exploring the underlying roles of fat, protein, carbohydrate, fiber and water intakes.
OBJECTIVE
This paper uses observational data to explore what dietary constituents might be responsible for associations between energy density, energy intake and weight status among free-living individuals.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data on 5783 Chinese adults (aged 20-59 y) from the 1991 China Health and Nutrition Surveys were used to test for associations between energy density, energy intake and weight status, controlling for age, sex, height, activity level, smoking status, urban residence and income. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to identify nutrient intake correlates of energy density. Replacing energy density with its nutrient correlates (3 day mean estimates of fat, protein, fiber and water intakes) in the models predicting energy intake and overweight status, the independent effects of specific nutrients were investigated.


RESULTS
Energy density was positively and significantly associated with energy intake and overweight status. Energy density was significantly correlated with every nutrient examined, although the correlations were weak for most variables except water intake. Only water intake behaved consistently across analyses. It was negatively correlated with energy density, negatively, significantly and independently associated with energy intake as well as overweight status. Despite positive associations with energy intake, fat and protein intake were not significant predictors of overweight status. Fiber intake was strongly and positively associated with overweight status.


CONCLUSIONS
Of the nutrients examined, only water intake appeared to explain the effects of energy density on energy intake and overweight status.
Stookey
J D
JD
Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516-3997, USA. jstookey@email.unc.edu
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014867:Water