Eating Frequency Is Positively Associated with Overweight and XXXX in US Adults.

@entity1 @entity2198 @entity28 @entity1144 @entity1386
BACKGROUND: Evidence of the association between eating frequency (EF) and @entity1386 is inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: With the use of data from the NHANES 2003-2012, this cross-sectional study examined the associations between EF, @entity2198 ( @entity2198 ), and snack frequency (SF) and overweight/ @entity28 and @entity1144 . METHODS: Dietary intake was assessed with the use of two 24-h dietary recalls in 18,696 US adults >= 20 y of age. All eating occasions providing >= 50 kcal of energy were divided into meals or snacks on the basis of contribution to energy intake (>= 15% or <15%), self-report, and time (0600-1000, 1200-1500, 1800-2100, or other). Multivariable logistic regression was used to compute ORs and 95% CIs. RESULTS: When analyzed without adjustment for the ratio of energy intake to estimated energy requirement (EI:EER), all measures of EF, @entity2198 , and SF showed inverse or null associations. After adjustment for EI:EER, however, EF was positively associated with overweight/ @entity28 (body mass index >= 25 kg/m(2)) and @entity1144 (waist circumference >= 102 cm in @entity1 and >= 88 cm in @entity1 ). Compared with the lowest category ( <=3 times/d), the OR (95% CI) for overweight/ @entity28 in the highest category (>= 5 times/d) was 1.54 (1.23, 1.93) in @entity1 (P-trend = 0.003) and 1.45 (1.17, 1.81) in @entity1 (P-trend = 0.001). The corresponding value for @entity1144 was 1.42 (1.15, 1.75) in @entity1 (P-trend = 0.002) and 1.29 (1.05, 1.59) in @entity1 (P-trend = 0.03). The self-report-based @entity2198 and time-based @entity2198 were positively associated with overweight/ @entity28 , @entity1144 , or both, although @entity2198 based on energy contribution showed no associations. There were positive associations for all SF measures in @entity1 and for the energy-contribution-based SF in @entity1 . CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study suggests that higher EF, @entity2198 , and SF are associated with increased likelihood of overweight/ @entity28 and @entity1144 in US adults. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the associations observed here.
