Association between Eating Patterns and Obesity in a Free-living US Adult Population

TLDR

Eating patterns, such as frequency, timing, breakfast skipping, and eating away from home, have been suggested to be linked to obesity. This study used data from the Seasonal Variation of Blood Cholesterol Study to evaluate the relationship between eating patterns and obesity. Participants (499) completed three 24‑hour dietary recalls and a body‑weight measurement at five time points over a year; the data were averaged across five periods and cross‑sectionally analyzed with odds ratios adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, and total energy intake. Greater daily eating episodes were associated with lower obesity risk (OR 0.55 for ≥4 vs ≤3 episodes), whereas breakfast skipping (OR 4.5) and frequent eating away from home increased obesity prevalence.

Abstract

Some studies have suggested that eating patterns, which describe eating frequency, the temporal distribution of eating events across the day, breakfast skipping, and the frequency of eating meals away from home, may be related to obesity. Data from the Seasonal Variation of Blood Cholesterol Study (1994-1998) were used to evaluate the relation between eating patterns and obesity. Three 24-hour dietary recalls and a body weight measurement were collected at five equally spaced time points over a 1-year period from 499 participants. Data were averaged for five time periods, and a cross-sectional analysis was conducted. Odds ratios were adjusted for other obesity risk factors including age, sex, physical activity, and total energy intake. Results indicate that a greater number of eating episodes each day was associated with a lower risk of obesity (odds ratio for four or more eating episodes vs. three or fewer = 0.55, 95% confidence interval: 0.33, 0.91). In contrast, skipping breakfast was associated with increased prevalence of obesity (odds ratio = 4.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.57, 12.90), as was greater frequency of eating breakfast or dinner away from home. Further investigation of these associations in prospective studies is warranted.