OBESITY AND NUTRITION IN CHILDREN - THE BELGIAN LUXEMBOURG CHILD STUDY IV

Objective: To analyse the association between nutritional and familial factors and obesity in boys and girls. Design: Randomized, cross-sect ional population study. Setting: Province de Luxembourg, Belgium. Subj ects: One thousand and twenty-eight boys and girls in age strata 6-8, 8-10 and 10-12 y, comprising 70.3% of primary cohort. Methods: Examina tions included anthropometric measurements and questionnaires covering familial, socioeconomic and psychosocial factors. A three day dietary record was obtained in 955 children. This was analysed in relation to the anthropometric data. Results: In comparison with similar studies from other regions and recommended allowances, the intakes of total en ergy, fat, particularly saturated fat and cholesterol, were high, whil e consumption of carbohydrate and fiber was low, as well as the polyun saturated/saturated ratio of fat. Total energy intake showed no or wea kly significant correlations with anthropometric factors. However, tot al fat (P = 0.045) and saturated fat (P = 0.0005) intake showed consis tent positive correlations with body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) and ski nfold thickness, with corresponding negative relationships to carbohyd rate intake (P = 0.034) in boys. Such relationships were also found wh en calculated as energy density. These associations were not statistic ally significant in girls. The high fat, low carbohydrate pattern of t he nutritional status seemed to be more pronounced in families where t he father had a low level of education (lipids, boys, P = 0.0007), and where both parents were obese (saturated fat, boys, P = 0.023), sugge sting involvement of socioeconomic and familial factors. Conclusion: T he lack of correlation between factors indicating obesity and total en ergy intake suggests that the positive energy balance causing obesity is due mainly to a low energy output. However, since energy intake mea surements are imprecise, overeating can not be excluded, particularly since elevated consumption of food with high contents of fat, found in these children seems to be poorly regulated.