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  • Original Article
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Clinical Studies and Practice

Irregular consumption of energy intake in meals is associated with a higher cardiometabolic risk in adults of a British birth cohort

International Journal of Obesity volume 38, pages 1518–1524 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

A potential risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases is irregular or inconsistent eating, however, research on this topic is scarce. We aimed to study associations between irregular consumption of energy intake in meals and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Subject and Methods:

Dietary intake data were derived from 5-day estimated diet diaries of 1768 participants of the National Survey of Health and Development. Energy intakes during predefined meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, between meals) and daily totals were analyzed using a score for irregularity based on the deviation from the 5-day mean energy intake. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for having the metabolic syndrome or one of its components. Models were adjusted for sex, physical activity, socioeconomic status, marital status and smoking.

Results:

Irregularity scores of energy intake ranged from 0–160 and were highest for between meals. An increased risk of the metabolic syndrome was associated with more irregular energy intake during breakfast (OR=1.34 (0.99, 1.81); P trend=0.04) and between meals (OR=1.36 (1.01, 1.85); P trend=0.04). Moreover, increased waist circumference was associated with irregular energy intake during breakfast (OR=1.90 (1.47, 2.45); P trend <0.01), evening meal (OR=1.36 (1.06, 1.75); P trend=0.02) and daily total (OR=1.34 (1.04, 1.72); P trend=0.01). No significant associations were found for the other components of the metabolic syndrome.

Conclusions:

Individuals with a more irregular intake of energy, especially during breakfast and between meals, appeared to have an increased cardiometabolic risk.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to all the members who took part in the NSHD. This work was supported by the MRC grant numbers U1200632239 and U123092720. GKP and AMS designed the research; GP conducted the research and analyzed data; GKP, RH and AMS wrote the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division, School of Medicine, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, London, UK

    G K Pot

  2. MRC Human Nutrition Research, Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, Cambridge, UK

    G K Pot & A M Stephen

  3. MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, London, UK

    R Hardy

  4. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Surrey University, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Surrey, UK

    A M Stephen

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  1. G K Pot
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Correspondence to G K Pot.

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Pot, G., Hardy, R. & Stephen, A. Irregular consumption of energy intake in meals is associated with a higher cardiometabolic risk in adults of a British birth cohort. Int J Obes 38, 1518–1524 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2014.51

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