Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Paper
  • Published:

Relationship between juvenile obesity, dietary energy and fat intake and physical activity

International Journal of Obesity volume 26, pages 458–463 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship of juvenile obesity to dietary fat, particularly saturated fat, and with dietary energy (controlling for activity patterns).

DESIGN: Cross-sectional, evaluation of diet and activity patterns of obese and non-obese children and adolescents.

SUBJECTS: A total of 181 children, aged 4–16 y. Subjects were divided into two groups: obese (body mass index, BMI, >95th percentile for age and sex), 40 males and 51 females; and non-obese (BMI <75th percentile for age and sex), 35 males and 55 females.

MEASUREMENTS: Dietary intake was analyzed with a dietary history interview; activity patterns were analyzed with an activity interview and body fat was measured with bioelectrical impedance analysis.

RESULTS: The obese subjects consumed significantly more total calories, total fat in grams and saturated fatty acids (SFA) in grams than did the non-obese subjects. Based on step-wise multiple regression, the total energy consumed, not total fat or SFA, had the strongest relationship to the subject's percentage body fat, controlling for activity levels.

CONCLUSION: We suggest that, although obese children and adolescents consume more dietary energy and fat than non-obese children and adolescents, there is a stronger relationship between total energy consumed and juvenile adiposity than with dietary fat or type of dietary fat consumed.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. World Health Organization . Global prevalence and secular trends in obesity. In: Obesity preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a WHO Consultation on Obesity. WHO: Geneva; 1998 17–40.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Tremblay MS, Willms JD . Secular trends in the body mass index of Canadian children Clin Med Assoc J 2000 163: 1429–1433.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bar-Or O, Foreyt JF, Bouchard C, Brownell KD, Kietz WH, Ravussin E, Salbe AD, Schwenger S, St Jeor S, Torun B . Physical activity, genetic, and nutritional considerations in childhood weight management Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998 30: 2–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Dietz WH . Health consequences of obesity in youth: childhood predictors of adult disease Pediatrics 1998 30: S518–S525.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Stark O, Atkins E, Wolff H, Douglas WJB . Longitudinal study on obesity in the national survey of health and development Br Med J 1981 283: 13–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Mossberg HO . 40-year follow-up of overweight children Lancet 1989 2: 491–493.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Guo SS, Roche AF, Chumlea WC, Gardner JD, Siervogel RM . The predictive value of childhood body mass index values for overweight at age 35 y Am J Clin Nutr 1994 59: 810–819.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hill JO, Trowbridge FL . Childhood obesity: future directions and research priorities Pediatrics 1998 101: S570–S574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Tucker LA, Saljaas GT, Hager RL . Body fat percentage of children varies according to their diet composition J Am Diet Assoc 1997 97: 981–986.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Revussin E, Tataranni PA . Dietary fat and human obesity J Am Diet Assoc 1997 97: S42–S46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Boozer CN, Brasseur A, Atkinson RL . Dietary fat affects weight loss and adiposity during energy restriction in rats Am J Clin Nutr 1993 58: 846–852.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Dulloo AG, Mensi N, Seydoux J, Girardier L . Differential effects of high-fat diets varying in fatty acid composition on the efficiency of lean and fat tissue deposition during weight recovery after low food intake Metabolism 1995 44: 273–279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Herberg L, Doppen W, Major E, Gries FA . Dietary-induced hypertrophic–hyperplastic obesity in mice J Lipid Res 1974 15: 580–585.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Jen KLC . Effects of dietary composition on food intake and carcass composition in rats Physiol Behav 1998 42: 551–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Oscai LB, Brown MM, Miller WC . Effects of dietary fat on food intake, growth and body composition in rats Growth 1984 48: 415–424.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Tucker LA, Kano MJ . Dietary fat and body fat: a multivariate study of 205 adult females Am J Clin Nutr 1992 56: 616–622.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Nelson LH, Tucker LA . Diet composition related to body fat in a multivariate study of 203 men J Am Diet Assoc 1996 96: 771–777.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Gazzaniga JM, Burns TL . Relationship between diet composition and body fatness, with adjustment for resting energy expenditure and physical activity, in preadolescent children Am J Clin Nutr 1993 58: 21–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Obarzanek E, Schreiber GB, Crawford PB, Goldman SR, Barrier PM, Frederick MM, Lakatos E . Energy intake and physical activity in relation to indexes of body fat: the national heart lung, and blood institute growth and health study Am J Clin Nutr 1994 60: 15–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Maffeis C, Pinelli L, Schutz Y . Fat intake and adiposity in 8 to 11-year-old obese children Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1996 20: 170–174.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Nguyen VT, Larson DE, Johnson RK, Goran MI . Fat intake and adiposity in children of lean and obese parents Am J Clin Nutr 1996 63: 507–513.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gibson RS . Principles of nutritional assessment New York: Oxford University Press 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Reilly JJ, Wilson J, Durnin JVGA . Determination of body composition from skinfold thickness: a validation study Arch Dis Child 1995 73: 305–310.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Van den Broeck, J, Wit JM . Anthropometry and body composition in children Horm Res 1997 48: S33–S42.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Hammer LD, Kraemer HC, Wilson DM, Ritter PL, Dornbusch SM . Standardized percentile curves of body-mass index for children and adolescents Am J Dis Child 1991 145: 259–263.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Martin AD, Ward R . Body composition. In: Docherty D (ed). Measurement in pediatric exercise science Human Kinetics: Vancouver 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hautkooper LB, Lohman TG, Going SB, Hall MC . Validity of bioelectric impedance for body composition assessment in children J Appl Physiol 1989 66: 814–821.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Burke BS . The dietary history as a tool in research J Am Diet Assoc 1947 23: 1041–1046.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Sallis JF, Haskell WL, Wood PD, Fortmann SP, Rogers T, Blair SN, Paffenbarger RS Jr . Physical activity assessment methodology in the five-city project Am J Epidemiol 1985 121: 91–106.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sallis JF, Buono MJ, Roby JJ, Micale FG & Nelson JA . Seven-day recall and other physical activity self-reports in children and adolescents Med Sci Sports Exerc 1993 25: 99–108.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Saris WHM . Assessment of energy expenditure and daily physical activity. In: Bar-Or (ed). The child and adolescent athlete Blackwell Science: Windsor, Ontario 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Blair SN . How to assess exercise habits and physical fitness In: Behavioral health: a handbook of health enhancement and disease prevention Wiley: New York 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Health and Welfare Canada . Nutrition recommendations The Report of the Scientific Review Committee: Ottawa 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Goran MI, Shewchuk R, Gower BA, Nagy TR, Carpenter WH, Johnson R . Longitudinal changes in fatness in white children: no effect of childhood energy expenditure Am J Clin Nutr 1998 67: 309–316.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Delany JP, Harsha DW, Kime J, Kumler J, Melancon L, Bray GA . Energy expenditure in lean and obese pre-pubertal children Obes Res 1995 3: S67–S72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Treuth MS, Figueroa-Colon R, Hunter GR, Weinsier RL, Butte NF, Goran MI . Energy expenditure and physical fitness in overweight vs non-overweight prepubertal girls Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1998 22: 440–447.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Cahn A . Growth and caloric intake of heavy and tall children J Am Diet Assoc 1968 53: 476–480.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Hampton MC, Huenemann RL, Shapiro LR, Mitchell BW . Caloric and nutrient intakes of teen-agers J Am Diet Assoc 1967 50: 385–396.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Johnson ML, Burke BS, Mayer J . Relative importance of inactivity and overeating in the energy balance of obese high school girls Am J Clin Nutr 1956 4: 37–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Rolland-Cachera M-F, Bellisle F . No correlation between adiposity and food intake: why are working class children fatter? Am J Clin Nutr 1986 44: 779–787.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Stefanik PA, Heald FP Jr, Mayer J . Caloric intake in relation to energy output of obese and non-obese adolescent boys Am J Clin Nutr 1959 7: 55–62.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Bruch H . Obesity in childhood Am J Dis Child 1940 59: 739–741.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Hodges RE, Krehl WA . Nutritional status of teenagers in Iowa Am J Clin Nutr 1965 17: 200–210.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Waxman M, Stunkard J . Caloric intake and expenditure of obese boys J Pediat 1980 96: 187–193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Lytle LA, Nichaman MZ, Obarzanek E, Glousky E, Montgomery D, Nichlas T, Zive M, Feldman H . Validation of 24-hour recalls assisted by food records in third-grade children J Am Diet Assoc 1993 93: 1431–1436.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Stunkard AJ, Waxman M . Accuracy of self-reports of food intake J Am Diet Assoc 1986 79: 547–551.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Schoellar DA . How accurate is self-reported dietary energy intake Nutr Rev 1990 48: 373–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Baranowski T, Dworkin R, Henske JC, Clearman DR, Dunn JK, Nader PR, Hooks PC . The accuracy of children's self-reports of diet: family health project J Am Diet Assoc 1986 86: 1381–1385.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Basch CE, Shea S, Arliss R, Contento IR, Rips J, Gustin B, Irigoyen M, Zybert P . Validations of mother's reports of dietary intake by four to seven year old children Am J Public Health 1990 81: 314–317.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Emmons L, Hayes M . Accuracy of 24-hr recalls of young children J Am Diet Assoc 1973 62: 409–415.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Klesges RC, Hanson CL, Eck LH, Durff AC . Accuracy of self-reports of food intake in obese and normal-weight individuals: effects of parental obesity on reports of children's dietary intake Am J Clin Nutr 1988 48: 1252–1256.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Livingston MB . Assessment of food intakes: are we measuring what people eat? Br J Biomed Sci 1995 52: 58–67.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Fisher JO, Johnson RK, Lindquist C, Birch LL, Goran MI . Influence of body composition on the accuracy of reported energy intake in children Obes Res 2000 8: 597–603.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Welk GJ, Corbin CB, Dale D . Measurement issues in the assessment of physical activity in children Res Q Exerc Sport 2000 71: 59–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Supported by Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation Research and Development Fund.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children's Exercise and Nutrition Centre, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    LJ Gillis, LC Kennedy, AM Gillis & O Bar-Or

Authors
  1. LJ Gillis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. LC Kennedy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. AM Gillis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. O Bar-Or
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to LJ Gillis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gillis, L., Kennedy, L., Gillis, A. et al. Relationship between juvenile obesity, dietary energy and fat intake and physical activity. Int J Obes 26, 458–463 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801967

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801967

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links