Do energy density and dietary fiber influence subsequent 5-year weight changes in adult men and women?
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether associations between dietary components and, in particular, energy density (ED) predicted subsequent 5-year weight changes.


METHODS
The present longitudinal population study was part of the Danish World Health Organization Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA) and the 1936 cohort dietary studies. Effects of components were studied in relation to subsequent 5-year weight changes in 862 men and 900 women, 30 to 60 years old. Linear multiple regression analyses were conducted.


RESULTS
Mean 5-year changes in body weight (BW) were 1.2 +/- 3.9 and 1.3 +/- 4.6 kg for men and women, respectively. In general, neither ED nor any of the dietary components was associated with subsequent change in BW. In women, ED was positively associated with weight gain among the obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2) and inversely associated with weight gain in normal-weight women (BMI < 25 kg/m2) (p = 0.01). However, in men there was a non-significant inverse trend between ED and weight gain in the obese and no significant interaction.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study to examine the associations between ED and subsequent changes in BW, and despite a general belief that ED is a major determinant of obesity, the present study did not generally lend support for an association. However, among certain subgroups, an energy-dense diet may be a risk factor for weight development.
Research Unit for Dietary Studies and Danish Epidemiology Science Centre at the Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Østre Søgade 18, DK-1399 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
Sofia I
SI
Iqbal
Jørn W
JW
Helge
Berit L
BL
Heitmann
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009753:Nutritive Value; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors