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Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, Honolulu,
96813, USA. gertraud@crch.hawaii.edu
OBJECTIVES:
To describe trends in BMI among different
ethnic groups in Hawaii and to explore the
relation of nutrient and food intake with
excess weight.
RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: We pooled demographic, anthropometric, and
nutritional data derived from a detailed
diet history for 159,683 participants of
18 population-based epidemiological studies
conducted in Hawaii over a 25-year period.
The age-adjusted prevalence of excess weight
(BMI > or = 25 kg/m(2)) was estimated
for 5-year intervals. To explore dietary
determinants of excess weight, we computed
odds ratios using logistic regression.
RESULTS:
During the study period, the prevalence of
excess weight increased considerably among
all ethnic groups. Native Hawaiians had the
highest and Asian Americans had the lowest
prevalence of excess weight at all times.
Although the percentage of calories consumed
from carbohydrates increased, the percentage
of calories from fat decreased over time.
On an individual level, fat and protein consumption
predicted a higher BMI, and dietary fiber
intake predicted a lower BMI.
Similarly,
a higher consumption of meat, poultry, and
fish was related to excess weight, whereas
fruit and vegetable intake were inversely
associated with excess weight. After stratification
by ethnicity, the associations were not materially
altered among women, but carbohydrates seemed
to have a stronger association with excess
weight among Native Hawaiian and Japanese
men than among white men
DISCUSSION: In
this large ethnically diverse population,
plant-based foods and dietary fiber emerged
as a potential protective factor against
excess weight regardless of ethnicity.
PMID: 16741275 [PubMed - in process] |
