Meal occasion, overweight, obesity and central obesity in children and adults: a cross-sectional study based on a nationally representative survey. Colombia, 2015

Objective To establish the association of the number of meals/day with overweight (Ow), obesity (Ob) and central obesity (CO). Design Cross-sectional, nationally representative surveys. Setting Colombia. Participants A total of 6985 children aged 5-17 years and 7846 adults aged 18-64 years were included. Main outcomes and measures According to the WHO, Ow was defined in children as a body mass index (BMI)-for-age Z-score between >1 and <= 2 and in adults as a BMI between >= 25 and <30 (kg/m(2)). Ob was defined as a Z-score >2 in children and as a BMI >= 30 in adults. CO in children was established by sex and age using cut-off points equivalent to those of adults established by the International Diabetes Federation: >= 90 and >= 80 cm in males and females, respectively. The number of meals/day was estimated with a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Meals/day were grouped into three categories: (reference <= 3, 4 and 5+ meals/day). Crude and adjusted relative prevalence ratios (PRs) and their 95% CIs were calculated. The adjustments included usual energy intake/day and physical activity. Results In children, 18.5% had Ow, 6.7% had Ob and 4.0% had CO. The adjusted PRs for five or more meals/day versus three or fewer meals/day were 1.10 (95% CI 0.79 to 1.55) for Ow, 0.95 (95% CI 0.57 to 1.59) for Ob and 1.06 (95% CI 0.72 to 1.55) for CO. In adults, 32.3% had Ow, 13.1% had Ob and 44.8% had CO. The adjusted PRs for five or more meals/day versus three or fewer meals/day were 0.58 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.76) for Ow, 0.51 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.72) for Ob and 0.70 (95% CI 0.54 to 0.92) for CO. Conclusions In children, meals/day were not associated with Ow, Ob or CO. In adults, this inverse relationship exists regardless of energy intake/day, whether physical activity goals are met, sex, age and other potentially confounding sociodemographic and environmental variables.

Automated summary

The objective of this study was to examine the association between the number of meals per day and overweight, obesity, and central obesity. The results showed that there was no association between the number of meals per day and these health issues in children, but in adults, a higher number of meals per day was inversely associated with overweight, obesity, and central obesity.