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Consumption of meat‐containing convenience foods may increase risk of obesity among adolescents (1024.18)
Author(s) -
Bitok Edward,
Alabdrabalnabi Ahmed,
Siapco Gina,
Sabaté Joan
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.1024.18
Subject(s) - overweight , obesity , medicine , waist , environmental health , meal , anthropometry , waist to height ratio , food science , demography , ethnic group , endocrinology , chemistry , sociology , anthropology
Consumption of meat‐containing convenience foods may increase risk of obesity among adolescents Edward Bitok, Ahmed Al Abdrabalnabi, Gina Siapco, Joan Sabaté Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350 Most convenience foods are characterized as energy dense, highly processed, and of poor nutrient quality. The aim of our study was to determine if the consumption of “meal‐type” convenience foods (CF) is associated with the risk of overweight/obesity among adolescents. In a cross‐sectional study, 309 females and 237 males ages 12‐18 years from 10 schools in southern California and Michigan reported their usual food intake during the past month using a web‐based food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were obtained during school visits. BMI z‐scores (BMIZ), waist circumference (WC), and waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) were used as overweight/obesity indicators. Intake of meal‐type CF was classified either as meat‐containing or meatless. Data was analyzed using frequency distributions, ANOVA, and multivariate tests. 418 participants had normal BMIZ and 128 were overweight/obese. Ethnicity was a significant predictor of BMIZ, WC, and WHtR. Controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, total energy intake, and exercise, increased consumption of meat‐containing CF was significantly associated with increased BMIZ ( p =.005) and WC ( p =.016). Intake of total CF and meatless CF were not significantly associated with BMIZ, WC, and WHtR. The consumption of meal‐ type CF among adolescents, those containing meat but not the meatless varieties may increase risk of obesity. Grant Funding Source : White Wave Foods