SWEDISH OBESE SUBJECTS (SOS) - AN OBESITY INTERVENTION STUDY WITH A NUTRITIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Objectives: Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) is a multidisciplinary projec t involving aspects of obesity ranging from description of the severel y obese state to effects of surgical intervention on long-term mortali ty and morbidity. Dietary studies, which represent an integral part of SOS research activities, are the focus of this review. Subjects and m ethods: Due to the large number of obese subjects included in the SOS data bases (> 5000), an early priority of the project was to develop a dietary assessment method which: (i) described usual intake patterns; (ii) could be self-administered by subjects and rapidly processed; an d (iii) was equally valid in obese and non-obese individuals. Results: The SOS method has met these requirements and is now being completed by all subjects at baseline and during the intervention, and by a non- obese reference population. A number of dietary features distinguishin g obese subjects have emerged, including: elevated intakes of energy a nd energy-percent fat; low consumption of alcohol, fruits and vegetabl es; high dietary disinhibition; frequent consumption of light meals an d snacks; and night eating. In the surgical intervention group, a rela tively high consumption of sweet foods was associated with better weig ht loss and maintenance. Conclusions: The SOS method appears to be les s susceptible to obesity-related under-reporting than traditional diet ary methods, and if the distribution of foods and nutrients can be ass umed to be as unbiased as the energy intakes, this method should make it possible to capture associations between diet and obesity-related d iseases in the future. Sponsorship: Swedish Medical Research Council.