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Volume 109, Issue 8, Pages 1356-1366 (August 2009)


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Continuing Education ArticleDietary Predictors of 5-Year Changes in Waist Circumference

Jytte Halkjær, PhDCorresponding Author Informationemail address, Anne Tjønneland, MD, PhD, DrMedSci, Kim Overvad, MD, PhD, Thorkild I.A. Sørensen, DrMedSci

Accepted 30 December 2008.

Abstract 

Background

Previous studies on the association between macronutrient intake and the development of abdominal obesity, which carries an increased health risk, have not shown a consistent pattern, possibly due to mixed effects of other aspects of the food intake.

Objective

This study investigated the association between intake from 21 food and beverage groups and the subsequent 5-year difference in waist circumference.

Methods

The study population consisted of 22,570 women and 20,126 men, aged 50 to 64 years at baseline, with complete data on baseline and follow-up waist circumference, baseline diet (192 items food frequency questionnaire), body mass index, and selected potential confounders (eg, smoking status, sport activities, and intake of alcoholic beverages). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed.

Results

For women, 5-year difference in waist circumference was inversely related to intake from red meat, vegetables, fruit, butter, and high-fat dairy products, whereas intake from potatoes, processed meat, poultry, and snack foods was positively associated. For men, red meat and fruit intakes were inversely associated with 5-year difference in waist circumference, whereas snack foods intake was positively associated. Sex differences occurred for vegetables, high-fat dairy products, and processed meat.

Conclusions

The results suggest that a diet low in fruits and red meat and high in snack foods was associated with larger waist circumference gains in both sexes. Furthermore, in women a diet low in vegetables, butter, and high-fat dairy products, and high in poultry, potatoes, and processed meat were likely determinants of subsequent gain at the waist.

Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Jytte Halkjær, PhD, The Danish Cancer Society Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

 Meets Learning Need Codes 3000, 3030, 3040, 4000, and 5370. To take the Continuing Professional Education quiz for this article, log in to ADA's Online Business Center at www.eatright.org/obc, click the “Journal Article Quiz” button, click “Additional Journal CPE Articles,” and select this article's title from a list of available quizzes.

PII: S0002-8223(09)00637-3

doi:10.1016/j.jada.2009.05.015


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