FREQUENCY OF EATING OCCASIONS AND WEIGHT CHANGE IN THE NHANES-I EPIDEMIOLOGIC FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of frequency of eating occasions with prospective, and retrospective weight change. DESIGN: Data from the NHANES I (1971-75) Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (NHEFS, 1982-84) (n = 7147) was used. Weight change was defined as the difference betwe en the weight measured at follow-up in 1982-84 and the weight measured at baseline in 1971-75. Baseline frequency of eating occasions was es timated by summation of actual times at which food was reported consum ed in a 24-h dietary recall. Follow-up frequency of eating was estimat ed from subject responses at follow-up to number of meals and snacks c onsumed daily. RESULTS: Men and women reported (mean +/- s.e.) baselin e frequency of 5.3 +/- 0.06 and 4.9 +/- 0.03 eating occasions, respect ively. Frequency of eating occasions at follow-up was 3.6 +/- 0.02 occ asions in both men and women. Baseline body mass index and frequency o f eating were inversely related in multivariate regression analyses in both men and women (P < 0.02). Regression analyses adjusted for multi ple covariates showed no association between weight change and frequen cy of eating at baseline or follow-up. CONCLUSION: Baseline frequency and subsequent weight change or follow-up frequency and preceding weig ht change were unrelated in the NHEFS cohort.