Meat consumption and prospective weight change in participants of the EPIC-PANACEA study.
BACKGROUND
Meat intake may be related to weight gain because of its high energy and fat content. Some observational studies have shown that meat consumption is positively associated with weight gain, but intervention studies have shown mixed results.


OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to assess the association between consumption of total meat, red meat, poultry, and processed meat and weight gain after 5 y of follow-up, on average, in the large European population who participated in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Physical Activity, Nutrition, Alcohol, Cessation of Smoking, Eating Out of Home and Obesity (EPIC-PANACEA) project.


METHODS
A total of 103,455 men and 270,348 women aged 25-70 y were recruited between 1992 and 2000 in 10 European countries. Diet was assessed at baseline with the use of country-specific validated questionnaires. A dietary calibration study was conducted in a representative subsample of the cohort. Weight and height were measured at baseline and self-reported at follow-up in most centers. Associations between energy from meat (kcal/d) and annual weight change (g/y) were assessed with the use of linear mixed models, controlled for age, sex, total energy intake, physical activity, dietary patterns, and other potential confounders.


RESULTS
Total meat consumption was positively associated with weight gain in men and women, in normal-weight and overweight subjects, and in smokers and nonsmokers. With adjustment for estimated energy intake, an increase in meat intake of 250 g/d (eg, one steak at approximately 450 kcal) would lead to a 2-kg higher weight gain after 5 y (95% CI: 1.5, 2.7 kg). Positive associations were observed for red meat, poultry, and processed meat.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that a decrease in meat consumption may improve weight management.
Vergnaud
Anne-Claire
AC
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. a.vergnaud@imperial.ac.uk
Norat
Teresa
T
Romaguera
Dora
D
Mouw
Traci
T
May
Anne M
AM
Travier
Noemie
N
Luan
Jian'an
J
Wareham
Nick
N
Slimani
Nadia
N
Rinaldi
Sabina
S
Couto
Elisabeth
E
Clavel-Chapelon
Françoise
F
Boutron-Ruault
Marie-Christine
MC
Cottet
Vanessa
V
Palli
Domenico
D
Agnoli
Claudia
C
Panico
Salvatore
S
Tumino
Rosario
R
Vineis
Paolo
P
Agudo
Antonio
A
Rodriguez
Laudina
L
Sanchez
Maria Jose
MJ
Amiano
Pilar
P
Barricarte
Aurelio
A
Huerta
Jose Maria
JM
Key
Timothy J
TJ
Spencer
Elisabeth A
EA
Bueno-de-Mesquita
Bas
B
Büchner
Frederike L
FL
Orfanos
Philippos
P
Naska
Androniki
A
Trichopoulou
Antonia
A
Rohrmann
Sabine
S
Hermann
Silke
S
Boeing
Heiner
H
Buijsse
Brian
B
Johansson
Ingegerd
I
Hellstrom
Veronica
V
Manjer
Jonas
J
Wirfält
Elisabet
E
Jakobsen
Marianne Uhre
MU
Overvad
Kim
K
Tjonneland
Anne
A
Halkjaer
Jytte
J
Lund
Eiliv
E
Braaten
Tonje
T
Engeset
Dagrun
D
Odysseos
Andreani
A
Riboli
Elio
E
Peeters
Petra H M
PH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000145:classification; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain