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Meal glycaemic load of normal-weight and overweight Hong Kong children

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 220–227 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To describe the pattern of meal glycaemic load of children in Hong Kong and to determine whether the meal glycaemic load is associated with childhood overweight.

Method:

Dietary records (3-day) of 316 Hong Kong children aged 6–7 years were collected. Glycaemic load was calculated from the estimated weight (WT), carbohydrate content (%CHO) and glycaemic index (GI) of each food taken using the equation: (% CHO × GI × WT/100). The meal glycaemic load was then the sum of the glycaemic loads of all food taken in each meal. Logistic regression analyses were used to compare the average meal glycaemic load (of breakfast, lunch and dinner) and other dietary parameters between overweight children and normal-weight children.

Results:

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks provided, respectively, 17, 29, 29 and 25% of the total glycaemic load in a day. White rice (excluding congee (rice porridge) and glutinous rice) contributed almost half of the total glycaemic load. Adjusted logistic regression showed that the meal glycaemic load was not significantly associated with childhood overweight after adjusting for parental obesity, birth weight, sleeping duration, mean energy intake and paternal smoking.

Conclusion:

Meal glycaemic load calculated from current diet was not an independent factor associated with childhood overweight in children aged 6–7 years. Our data suggested that modifying the type of rice/staple consumed and choosing low-GI snacks could have a major influence on the total meal glycaemic load of young Hong Kong children.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Professor J Brand Miller and Dr S Holt of the Human Nutrition Unit, University of Sydney for their advice on GI values of foods, and Ms LM Yu (Centre for Clinical Trial and Epidemiological Research, Chinese University of Hong Kong) for her statistical advice. We are also grateful to Dr LY Tse, Dr G Tong and the doctors and nurses in the Student Health Service Centres, Department of Health, for helping to recruit the subjects for this study.

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  1. Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong

    L L Hui & E A S Nelson

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  1. L L Hui
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Correspondence to E A S Nelson.

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Hui, L., Nelson, E. Meal glycaemic load of normal-weight and overweight Hong Kong children. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 220–227 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602305

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