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Total fat, fat distribution and blood pressure according to eating frequency in children living in southern Italy: the ARCA project

International Journal of Obesity volume 30, pages 1166–1169 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The relationships between eating frequency and adiposity and cardiovascular risk factors have been poorly investigated in children. To evaluate this issue, anthropometric indices and blood pressure (BP) were measured in 3668 children, aged 6–11 years. Meals/snack frequency, assessed by a questionnaire, was ‘Low’ in 332 (⩽3 meals/day), ‘Intermediate’ in 1334 (4/day) and ‘High’ in 2002 (⩾5/day) children. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference significantly decreased going up across meals/snacks categories (BMI=20.5±0.2, 19.7±0.1 and 18.8±0.1 kg/m2; waist=68.0±0.6, 66.6±0.3, 63.9±0.2 cm, for Low, Intermediate and High groups, respectively; M±s.e.; P<0.001 by ANCOVA trend analysis adjusted by age, sex, birth weight, physical activity, parental overweight and education level). BP decreased from Low to High group but differences were no longer significant after adjustment for BMI. In our sample of school children, the daily eating frequency was inversely associated with the degree of both total adiposity and central fat deposition.

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Author notes

  1. G Barba, E Troiano, P Russo and A Siani: Members of The ARCA Project Study Group are listed in Appendix A.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology and Population Genetics, Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino, Italy

    G Barba, E Troiano, P Russo & A Siani

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  1. G Barba
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  2. E Troiano
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  3. P Russo
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  4. A Siani
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for the ARCA Project Study group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G Barba.

Appendix A

Appendix A

The ARCA Project Study Group:Agriculture Department, Campania Region: M Bianco, A Tallarico (SeSIRCA) F Alvino, M Ferrante, U Fiorentino (STAPAL Avellino).Institute of Food Sciences, CNR: G Barba, L Bruno, P Russo, A Siani, E Troiano, A Venezia.ASL Av1: G Capobianco, V Cavalli, P Corvino, L Delli Paoli, T Del Viscovo, A Donatiello, MG Falco, I Giusto, F Guardascione, C Macchia, A Mastromarino, G Nicoletta, E Pennarola, M Prudente, A Rabuano, G Sena, E Tenore, MA Ternulli.ASL Av2: G Amatucci, R Baciarelli, C Casullo, L Curto, C D'Avanzo, A Di Filippo, N Pescatore, A Spina, R Ziccardi.ASL Na5: MR Izzo, M Viti.

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Barba, G., Troiano, E., Russo, P. et al. Total fat, fat distribution and blood pressure according to eating frequency in children living in southern Italy: the ARCA project. Int J Obes 30, 1166–1169 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803257

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