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Milk intake is inversely related to obesity in men and in young women: data from the Portuguese Health Interview Survey 1998–1999

International Journal of Obesity volume 30, pages 88–93 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the relationships between milk intake and body mass index (BMI) in a representative sample of the mainland Portuguese population.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Setting:

National Health Interview Survey 1998–1999. Average daily milk intake was calculated by a frequency questionnaire that also assessed the average volume of one serving. BMI was derived from the subject's reported height and weight.

Subjects:

A total of 17 771 men and 19 742 women aged ⩾18 y.

Results:

In men, milk intake was inversely related to BMI (r=−0.10, P<0.001), whereas the relationship in women was weaker (r=−0.06, P<0.001). In men, prevalence of milk consumers was lower in obese (62%) and in overweight (68%) than in normal weight subjects (71%, P<0.001). After adjusting for age, region, physical activity, smoking, number of meals and educational level, milk intake decreased with increasing BMI (adjusted mean±s.e.: 280±5, 266±5 and 246±7 ml/day for normal, overweight and obese subjects, respectively, P<0.001), even after excluding subjects who did not consume milk (368±5, 353±6 and 346±8 ml/day, P<0.02). In women, prevalence of milk consumers was lower in obese (71%) and in overweight (72%) than in normal weight subjects (76%, P<0.001). In women younger than 55 y, milk intake decreased with increased BMI categories (291±9, 271±10 and 269±11 ml/day for normal, overweight and obese subjects, respectively, P<0.001), whereas no relationship was found in the older group.

Conclusions:

Increased calcium intake is slightly but significantly negatively related with BMI in men and premenopausal women. The lack of relationship in older women might be due to the hormonal status, but awaits further investigation.

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Acknowledgements

The Centro de Nutrição e Metabolismo of the Instituto de Medicina Molecular is partially funded by a grant from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia ref. RUN 437.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Nutrição e Metabolismo, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Egas Moniz, Lisboa, Portugal

    P Marques-Vidal

  2. Escola Superior de Saúde Egas Moniz, Travessa da Granja, Monte de Caparica, Portugal

    A Gonçalves

  3. Centro de Epidemiologia e Bioestatística, Observatório Nacional de Saúde, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, Lisboa, Portugal

    C M Dias

Authors
  1. P Marques-Vidal
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  2. A Gonçalves
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  3. C M Dias
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Correspondence to P Marques-Vidal.

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Marques-Vidal, P., Gonçalves, A. & Dias, C. Milk intake is inversely related to obesity in men and in young women: data from the Portuguese Health Interview Survey 1998–1999. Int J Obes 30, 88–93 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803045

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