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Seasonal variation in food intake, physical activity, and body weight in a predominantly overweight population

Abstract

Objective:

To describe seasonal variation in food intake, physical activity, and body weight in a predominantly overweight population.

Design:

A longitudinal observational study.

Setting:

Most of the study participants were recruited from a health maintenance organization (HMO) in central Massachusetts, USA. Additional individuals of Hispanic descent were recruited from outside of the HMO population to increase the ethnic diversity of this sample.

Subjects:

Data from 593 participants, aged 20–70, were used for this investigation. Each participant was followed quarterly (five sampling points: baseline and four consecutive quarters) for 1-year period. Body weight measurements and three 24-h dietary and physical activity recalls were obtained on randomly selected days (including 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day) per quarter. Sinusoidal regression models were used to estimate peak-to-trough amplitude and phase of the peaks.

Results:

Daily caloric intake was higher by 86 kcal/day during the fall compared to the spring. Percentage of calories from carbohydrate, fat and saturated fat showed slight seasonal variation, with a peak in the spring for carbohydrate and in the fall for total fat and saturated fat intake. The lowest physical activity level was observed in the winter and the highest in the spring. Body weight varied by about 1/2 kg throughout the year, with a peak in the winter (P<0.001 winter versus summer). Greater seasonal variation was observed in subjects who were male, middle aged, nonwhite, and less educated.

Conclusions:

Although there is seasonal variation in diet, physical activity and body weight, the magnitude of the change is generally small in this population.

Sponsorship:

US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

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Acknowledgements

The project described was supported by Grant No. R01-HL52745 to Dr Ira S Ockene and 1 R21 HL074895-01 to Dr Yunsheng Ma from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NHLBI. The authors thank Philip Merriam, Laura Robidoux, and Priscilla Cirillo for their assistance with study recruitment and data collection; Kelly Scribner for coordination of the 24-h recalls; and Seasons dieticians who conducted the 24-h recalls: Susan Nelson, Christine Singelton, Pat Jeans, Karen Lafayette, Deborah Lamb, Stephanie Olson and Eileen Capstraw. The authors also thank Drs Charles Matthews and Patty Freedson for their contribution on physical activity measurements.

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Correspondence to Y Ma.

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Guarantor: Y Ma.

Contributors: Study concept and design: YM, BCO, WL, and ISO. Statistical analysis: WL, and ARH. Drafting of the manuscript: YM and BCO. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual contents: WL, ARH, DC, JRH, MC, MS, and ISO.

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Ma, Y., Olendzki, B., Li, W. et al. Seasonal variation in food intake, physical activity, and body weight in a predominantly overweight population. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 519–528 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602346

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