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http://hdl.handle.net/1961/4554
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| Title: | IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EATING FREQUENCY AND OVERWEIGHT STATUS IN CHILDREN? |
| Authors: | Conklin, Elizabeth Anne |
| Issue Date: | 18-Nov-2008 |
| Abstract: | Over the last three decades, the prevalence of overweight among children has increased significantly, putting them at greater risk for hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and some cancers. Genetics play a role in determining childrens overweight status but environmental and behavioral factors play a role as well, providing researchers with the opportunity to explore options to help curb the childhood overweight trends. One of the factors being explored is eating frequency, which may have a negative or positive association with being overweight for children, holding caloric intake constant. A positive relationship may exist if children who condense their daily caloric intake into fewer meals metabolize their food more efficiently, thereby reducing their probability of being overweight. On the other hand, a negative relationship may exist if spreading caloric intake out over the course of the day by eating more meals and snacks provides children energy at a more efficient rate, allowing them to maintain a healthier weight status. This study analyzes data on children ages 6-12 from the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, a nationwide survey conducted in 1994-96 and 1998. Approximately 37 percent of the study population are at risk for overweight or overweight. Findings indicate that the relationship between eating frequency and weight status in children is negative and statistically significant. An increase of one in the average number of meals and snacks eaten per day decreases the odds that a child will be at risk for overweight or overweight by 11 percent, holding caloric intake and demographic, activity level, health indicator, and socioeconomic factors constant. Another key result is a positive relationship between hours spent watching television and a childs risk of being at risk for overweight or overweight. Increasing hours spent watching television by one hour raises a childs odds of being at risk for overweight or overweight by 8 percent, holding other factors constant. These findings suggest that it would be beneficial to educate children and their parents about the role these modifiable behaviors have on a childs risk of being an unhealthy weight. |
| URI to cite or link to this item: | http://hdl.handle.net/1961/4554 |
| Appears in Collections: | Public Policy (GT-ETD)
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Georgetown University 
