Intake of fried foods is associated with obesity in the cohort of Spanish adults from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.
BACKGROUND
Consumption of fried food has been suggested to promote obesity, but this association has seldom been studied.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to assess the association of energy intake from fried food with general and central obesity in Spain, a Mediterranean country where frying with oil is a traditional cooking procedure.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of 33 542 Spanish persons aged 29-69 y who were participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition between 1992 and 1996. Dietary intake was assessed by a diet history questionnaire. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured by trained interviewers. Analyses were performed with logistic regression and were adjusted for total energy intake and other confounders.


RESULTS
The prevalence of general obesity [body mass index (in kg/m(2)) >or= 30] was 27.6% in men and 27.7% in women. Respective figures for central obesity (waist circumference >or= 102 cm in men and >or= 88 cm in women) were 34.5% and 42.6%. The average proportion of energy intake from fried food was 15.6% in men and 12.6% in women. The adjusted odds ratios for general obesity in the highest versus the lowest quintile of fried food intake were 1.26 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.45; P for trend < 0.001) in men and 1.25 (1.11, 1.41; P for trend < 0.001) in women. The corresponding values for central obesity were 1.17 (1.02, 1.34; P for trend < 0.003) in men and 1.27 (1.13, 1.42; P for trend < 0.001) in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Fried food was positively associated with general and central obesity only among subjects in the highest quintile of energy intake from fried food.
Guallar-Castillón
Pilar
P
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. mpilar.guallar@uam.es
Rodríguez-Artalejo
Fernando
F
Fornés
Nélida Schmid
NS
Banegas
José R
JR
Etxezarreta
Pilar Amiano
PA
Ardanaz
Eva
E
Barricarte
Aurelio
A
Chirlaque
María-Dolores
MD
Iraeta
Miren Dorronsoro
MD
Larrañaga
Nerea Larrañaga
NL
Losada
Adamina
A
Mendez
Michelle
M
Martínez
Carmen
C
Quirós
José R
JR
Navarro
Carmen
C
Jakszyn
Paula
P
Sánchez
María J
MJ
Tormo
María J
MJ
González
Carlos A
CA
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003296:Cooking / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004041:Dietary Fats