DIETARY-FAT INTAKE AND WEIGHT-GAIN IN WOMEN GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED FOR OBESITY

The influence of dietary fat intake on subsequent change in body mass index (BMI) of adult women was examined while taking into account pred isposition for obesity. A representative population sample of 361 Swed ish women aged 38-60 y was first examined in 1968-1969 and followed up 6 y later. Dietary intake was estimated by diet history interview, an d parental fatness was assessed by questionnaire. Women already overwe ight with greater than or equal to 1 obese parent were considered pred isposed to obesity. When total energy intake, smoking habits, physical activity, and menopausal status were controlled for in regression ana lysis, high dietary fat intake was significantly associated with a 6-y gain in BMI only among the predisposed women (P = 0.003), but not amo ng obese women with lean parents, or lean women with or without obese parents. High dietary fat intake may have an obesity-promoting effect in women with a genetic predisposition.