Relationship between juvenile obesity, dietary energy and fat intake and physical activity.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship of juvenile obesity to dietary fat, particularly saturated fat, and with dietary energy (controlling for activity patterns).


METHODS
Cross-sectional, evaluation of diet and activity patterns of obese and non-obese children and adolescents.


METHODS
A total of 181 children, aged 4-16 y. Subjects were divided into two groups: obese (body mass index, BMI, > 95th percentile for age and sex), 40 males and 51 females; and non-obese (BMI < 75th percentile for age and sex), 35 males and 55 females.


METHODS
Dietary intake was analyzed with a dietary history interview; activity patterns were analyzed with an activity interview and body fat was measured with bioelectrical impedance analysis.


RESULTS
The obese subjects consumed significantly more total calories, total fat in grams and saturated fatty acids (SFA) in grams than did the non-obese subjects. Based on step-wise multiple regression, the total energy consumed, not total fat or SFA, had the strongest relationship to the subject's percentage body fat, controlling for activity levels.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that, although obese children and adolescents consume more dietary energy and fat than non-obese children and adolescents, there is a stronger relationship between total energy consumed and juvenile adiposity than with dietary fat or type of dietary fat consumed.
Gillis
L J
LJ
Children's Exercise and Nutrition Centre, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, Ontario, Canada. gillis@hhsc.ca
Kennedy
L C
LC
Gillis
A M
AM
Bar-Or
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D004041:Dietary Fats