Energy intake in children at high and low risk of obesity
Griffiths, M.; Rivers, J.P.; Payne, P.R.
Human Nutrition. Clinical Nutrition 41(6): 425-430
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0263-8290 PMID: 3429262 Document Number: 299507
This study compared 7-d energy intakes of 37 young children at low (Group N) and high (Group O) risk of subsequent obesity, as judged from parental obesity. The energy intake of Group O was 16 per cent lower than Group N (P = 0.02). Although the intakes of all the children considered together and also Group N children alone showed the usual wide variability and absence of correlation with body size, the intakes of Group O children were significantly correlated with their weight and height (r = 0.5). The results confirm a previous study and suggest that, since basal metabolic rate and body weight are known to be correlated, attention should be focused on differences in expenditure in investigations of the aetiology of childhood obesity.