Associations between weight status, physical activity, and consumption of biscuits, cakes and confectionery among young people.

Title
Associations between weight status, physical activity, and consumption of biscuits, cakes and confectionery among young people in Britain.

Associations between wt. status, physical activity and diet among young people in the UK were studied, with special reference to consumption of biscuits, cakes and confectionery products (BCC) and the impact of under-reporting and dieting.

The sample consisted of 1294 children aged 7-18 yr (655 boys and 639 girls) who had completed all 3 relevant aspects of the National Diet & Nutrition Survey of Young People (i.e. a 7-day physical activity diary, a 7-day dietary record and wt./height measurements). Age-adjusted body mass index (BMI) was positively associated with sedentary activity and inversely associated with moderate or vigorous activity among boys. Among girls, associations between BMI and activity were weaker. After adjustment for age, gender, under-reporting and dieting, predictors of overweight in the logistic regression model used included components of energy intake and expenditure.

Each extra megajoule (MJ) of energy from BCC increased the odds of overweight by 24% while energy from other foods (per MJ) increased the odds by 76%. In the same model, each hour of moderate/vigorous activity reduced these odds by 26% while each hour watching television, playing computer games or listening to music increased them by 10%. Thus, overweight young people were no more likely to over consume sweet foods (biscuits cakes and confectionery) than other sources of energy.

It is concluded that the problem of overweight needs to be seen in its multidimensional context, involving level of activity, energy intake and food habits.