Some studies have suggested that eating patterns, which describe eating frequency, the temporal distribution of eating events across the day, breakfast skipping, and the frequency of eating meals away from home, may be related to obesity. Data from the Seasonal Variation of Blood Cholesterol Study (1994-1998) were used to evaluate the relation between eating patterns and obesity. Three 24-hour dietary recalls and a body weight measurement were collected at five equally spaced time points over a 1-year period from 499 participants. Data were averaged for five time periods, and a cross-sectional analysis was conducted. Odds ratios were adjusted for other obesity risk factors including age, sex, physical activity, and total energy intake. Results indicate that a greater number of eating episodes each day was associated with a lower risk of obesity (odds ratio for four or more eating episodes vs. three or fewer = 0.55, 95% confidence interval: 0.33, 0.91). In contrast, skipping breakfast was associated with increased prevalence of obesity (odds ratio = 4.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.57, 12.90), as was greater frequency of eating breakfast or dinner away from home. Further investigation of these associations in prospective studies is warranted.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common malignancy in cats, but little currently is known about its etiology. We examined the relationship between risk of oral SCC and factors such as environmental tobacco smoke, flea control products, and diet in 36 domestic cats with histologically confirmed oral SCC and 112 renal disease control cats presented to a large veterinary referral hospital between 1994 and 2000. Questionnaires were mailed to owners of all study and control cats to assess demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and level of chemical exposures 2 years before diagnosis. Multivariate relative risks (RR) were used to estimate the relationships between the various factors and the risk of oral SCC. Flea control product use and diet were significantly associated with risk of oral SCC. Cats that wore a flea collar had 5 times the risk of oral SCC as nonusers, after adjustment for other factors (RR = 5.3; P = .002). In contrast, use of flea shampoo substantially reduced risk. Compared to cats eating mostly dry food, those with high canned food intake had a 3-fold increase in risk (RR = 3.6; P = .014); canned tuna fish intake was independently associated with risk (RR = 4.7; P = .004). Exposure to household environmental tobacco smoke was associated with a nonsignificant 2-fold increase in risk (P = .11). Results of this study suggest that flea control products, diet, and perhaps environmental tobacco smoke might be associated with risk of oral SCC and indicate that further investigation into these relationships is warranted.

Overall, results did not suggest an inverse association between recreational physical activity and ovarian cancer. The possibility of a modest increase in risk with frequent vigorous activity requires further investigation.

Several studies have suggested that high intake of fats and fat-rich foods may increase the risk of ovarian cancer. The authors examined these relations in the Nurses' Health Study cohort. Dietary intake was assessed in 1980, 1984, 1986, and 1990 by using a self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Food data were used to calculate intake of various fats and fatty acids. For best reflection of long-term intake, an updated, cumulative, averaged measure of fat intake was used to predict incidence of ovarian cancer. Between 1980 and 1996, 301 incident cases of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer were confirmed among the 80,258 participants who completed the baseline food frequency questionnaire. There was no evidence of a positive association between intake of any type of fat and ovarian cancer risk, even after adjustment of fat subtypes for one another. Women in the highest quintile of total fat intake were not at increased risk compared with those in the lowest quintile (multivariate relative risk = 1.03, 95 percent confidence interval: 0.72, 1.45, p for trend = 0.97). Intakes of fat-rich foods were also not appreciably associated with ovarian cancer risk, although an increase in risk with frequent intake of eggs was observed. Overall, results suggest no association between intake of any type of fat and ovarian cancer.