The Cross-Sectional Association of Energy Intake and Dietary Energy Density with Body Composition of Children in Southwest China

Abstract

Objective: We examined whether dietary energy intake (EI) and dietary energy density (ED) were cross-sectionally associated with body composition of children living in Southwest China. Design and Methods: Multivariate regression analyses were performed on three day, 24 h dietary recall data and information on potential confounders from 1207 participants aged 8–14 years. EI was calculated from all foods and drinks and ED was classified into five categories. Body mass index (BMI) z-scores, percentage of body fat (%BF), fat mass index (FMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI) and ratio of waist to hip circumference (WHR) were used to describe body composition. Results: Boys with higher total EI had higher BMI z-scores, %BF, and FMI than boys with lower total EI both before and after measurements were adjusted for confounders (age, fiber intake, physical activity, the timing of adding complementary foods, paternal education level and maternal BMI) (p ≤ 0.04). However, EI was not associated with body composition in girls. Dietary ED, in any category, was not associated with body composition in either gender. Conclusions: Dietary ED was not associated with body composition of children in Southwest China, while dietary EI in boys, not girls, was positively associated with body composition. Reducing dietary energy intake may help to prevent obesity and related diseases in later life among boys living in Southwest China.

Dietary Energy Density and Its Association with Overweight or Obesity in Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

“…Table 1 shows the characteristics of the included studies. Eight cohort studies [ 28 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ] were carried out in the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and England, and four with cross-sectional design [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ] were carried out in Japan, China, Australia and Spain. All selected studies were published between 2004 and 2016, in adolescents aged 10–19 or children aged 6–11 years who were followed up until adolescence [ 28 , 32 , 33 , 35 ].…”

“…All selected studies were published between 2004 and 2016, in adolescents aged 10–19 or children aged 6–11 years who were followed up until adolescence [ 28 , 32 , 33 , 35 ]. The sample size range was 40–8202children and/or adolescents; five studies had <500 subjects [ 28 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 35 ], three had 500–2000 participants [ 37 , 39 , 40 ] and four had >2000 [ 34 , 36 , 38 , 41 ] ( Table 1 ).…”

“…For measurement of OW/O, most studies used indicators such as BMI z-score [ 35 ], BMI [ 38 ], standard deviation scores of BMI, [ 31 ] WC, [ 41 ], body weight [ 37 ], FMI [ 34 , 36 ] or considered two of these indicators such as the BMI [ 40 ] or BMI z-score [ 33 ] and FMI [ 33 ] or waist–height ratio (WHR) [ 40 ]. Three studies performed measurements with more than four of the indicators mentioned above, including BMI z-score [ 32 , 39 ], FMI [ 29 , 32 , 39 ], %BF [ 28 , 32 , 39 ], fat mass (FM) [ 32 ], fat free mass (FFM) [ 32 ], fat free mass index (FFMI) [ 39 ], WC [ 28 , 32 ], body weight [ 32 ], and/or WHR [ 39 ] ( Table 1 ).…”

Associations between body composition, nutrition, and physical activity in young adults

“…Some evidence points to a connection between total energy and macronutrient intakes and weight gain, but previous studies have reported different results (Bowen et al, ; Drenowatz et al, ; Zhou et al, ). Both positive and negative associations have been observed between average carbohydrate and protein intakes and body composition (Bowen et al, ; Koppes et al, ; Soenen and Westerterp‐Plantenga, ; Vinknes et al, ).…”

“…The role of body composition measurements other than BMI during early adulthood has not been thoroughly investigated. Only a few studies have been conducted, and these produced conflicting results (Bowen et al, ; Drenowatz et al, ; Zhou et al, ). Therefore, continuous measurement of body composition (fat mass and fat‐free mass) as well as BMI would provide data to further our understanding of the associations between nutrition, PA, and body composition.…”