Does fat intake predict adiposity in healthy children and adolescents aged 2–15 y? A longitudinal analysis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between food energy and macronutrient intake and body fatness assessed up to seven times between 2 and 15 y of age. Design: Prospective, observational study. Generalised linear estimating equations were used to evaluate the longitudinal relationship between body fatness and macronutrient intake. Regression analysis was used to assess whether body fatness at a particular age was predicted by intake at any of the previous ages. Setting: Community-based project in Adelaide, South Australia. Subjects: In all 143 ± 243 subjects from a representative birth cohort of healthy children recruited in 1975 and followed over 15 y. Main outcome measures: The dependent variables were body mass index (BMI), triceps (TC) and subscapular (SS) skinfolds, expressed as standard deviation (s.d.) scores at each age. The predictor variables were energyadjusted macronutrient intake and total energy intake, estimated from a 3 ± 4 day diet diary, the previous corresponding measure of body fatness, sex and parental BMI, TC or SS. Results: Across 2 ± 15 y energy-adjusted fat and carbohydrate intakes were respectively directly and inversely related to SS skinfold measures but not to either BMI or TC skinfold. The best predictor of fatness was previous adiposity, with the effect strengthening as the age interval shortened. Parental BMI, maternal SS and paternal TC contributed to the variance of the corresponding measure in children at some but not all ages. Conclusions: The current level of body fatness of the child and parental adiposity are more important predictors than dietary intake variables of risk of children becoming or remaining overweight as they grow.

Diet and body fat in adolescence and early adulthood: a systematic review of longitudinal studies

“…The second study found that young males who adhered to a DP rich in starch food sources at the age of fifteen had a 30% (p < 0.05) lower chance of being obese five years later 30 . There was no evidence of association between BMI and consumption of macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein and fat -% calories/ day) 15 , intake of dietary salt 16 , energy intake 29 and the habit of consuming milk, dairy products and calcium 10,22,23 .…”

“…The age at baseline ranged from two 15 to 18 years old 16,17 . Follow-up had a minimal duration of two years 11,18,19 and maximum of 13 years 15,20 . The average duration of follow-up was 6.0 years (SD = 2.9) and median of five years.…”

“…by six studies 10,12,19,[21][22][23] , specific food (sugar-sweetened beverages, soft drink, fast food, etc.) by seven 11,[16][17][18][24][25][26] , macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein and fat) by three 15,27,28 , total energy intake by one 29 , dietary index by one 13 and DP by three investigations 14,20,30 . The tools used for estimating food consumption were the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in ten studies [10][11][12]19,22,25,26,[28][29][30] , food record (FR) in nine [14][15][16][17]20,21,23,27 and 24-hour recall (R24h) in three studies 12,18,24 .…”

“…The BF outcome was evaluated based on BMI in fifteen studies 10,11,[14][15][16][17][18][19]22,23,25,26,[28][29][30] , %BF in thirteen [10][11][12][13][14][16][17][18]21,24,26,28,29 , BF kg in two 23,25 , FMI or AI in two 20,27 and skinfold -tricipital (TS) and subscapular (SS) -thickness in one study 15 . Analyzed at in young adulthood.…”

Early adiposity rebound: causes and consequences for obesity in children and adults

“…Other studies found an association between high protein intake in infancy and later high fatness, 24,46 whereas others did not. 9,47 A study conducted in Danish children found an association with measures of body size (weight and height) but not with body fat. 48 We previously proposed that the characteristics of childhood obesity, that is, increased stature and body mass (lean and fat) 27 were the consequence of high protein intakes inducing changes in hormonal status.…”