Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Medical School-Clinica Universitaria, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Clin Nutr. 2010 Jun;29(3):323-30. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2009.08.017. Epub 2009 Sep 13.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: It has been hypothesized that snacking could be a major factor in the development of obesity. However, the relationship between snacking and the increment in body weight remains controversial. Moreover, longitudinal studies about this issue are scarce. Thus, our objective was to prospectively assess the relationship between snacking and weight gain and obesity in a middle-aged free-living population.
Longitudinal prospective Spanish dynamic cohort (10,162 university graduates; mean age: 39 years) followed-up for an average of 4.6 years. Dietary habits were ascertained through a validated 136-item food-frequency questionnaire. Usual snackers were defined as those participants who answered affirmatively when asked in the baseline assessment if they usually eat between meals. Validated self-reported weight and body mass index were collected at baseline and during follow-up.
After adjusting for potential confounders, self-reported between-meal snacking was significantly associated with a higher risk of substantial weight gain (> or =3kg/year; p<0.001;> or =5kg/year, p<0.001;> or =10% baseline weight, p<0.001). Among participants with a baseline body mass index lower than 30kg/m(2) (n: 9709) we observed 258 new cases of obesity. Usual snackers presented an adjusted 69% higher risk of becoming obese during follow-up (Hazard Ratio: 1.69; 95% confidence interval: 1.30-2.20).
Our results support the hypothesis that self-reported between-meal snacking can be a potential risk factor for obesity.
有人假设，吃零食可能是导致肥胖的一个主要因素。然而，吃零食与体重增加之间的关系仍存在争议。此外，关于这个问题的纵向研究很少。因此，我们的目的是前瞻性评估在中年自由生活人群中，吃零食与体重增加和肥胖的关系。
这是一项前瞻性西班牙动态队列研究（10162 名大学毕业生；平均年龄：39 岁），随访平均 4.6 年。通过验证过的 136 项食物频率问卷来确定饮食习惯。习惯性吃零食者被定义为那些在基线评估时回答“经常在两餐之间进食”的参与者。在基线和随访期间收集了经过验证的自我报告体重和体重指数。
在调整了潜在的混杂因素后，自我报告的两餐之间吃零食与体重显著增加的风险增加显著相关（> 或 = 3kg/年；p < 0.001；> 或 = 5kg/年，p < 0.001；> 或 = 10%基线体重，p < 0.001）。在基线体重指数（BMI）低于 30kg/m2 的参与者（n = 9709）中，我们观察到 258 例新的肥胖病例。习惯性吃零食者在随访期间肥胖的风险增加了 69%（调整后的风险比：1.69；95%置信区间：1.30-2.20）。
我们的结果支持这样的假设，即自我报告的两餐之间吃零食可能是肥胖的一个潜在危险因素。
