Abstract
Shifting of energy intake towards a later time in the day is associated with an increased risk of obesity in adults. However, there is a lack of data for adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate adolescents eveningness in energy intake (EV) and its association with anthropometric indicators of nutritional status. This investigation was based on results from the Croatian physical activity in adolescence longitudinal study (CRO-PALS). The cohort included 607 adolescents (50.25% females and 49.75% males) who were assessed at the age of 15/16 and 18/19. A single multi-pass 24-h recall was used as a dietary assessment method, while anthropometric indicators of nutritional status included body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and the sum of four skinfolds. The School Health Action, Planning and Evaluation System (SHAPES) questionnaire was used to assess active daily energy expenditure and sedentary behaviors. EV was significantly higher at 18/19 years compared to 15/16 years in whole population (p < 0.01), among male adolescents (p < 0.01), but not among female adolescents (p > 0.05). Although a significant correlation between EV and WHR was found in females at the age of 15/16 (p < 0.01), the results of this study suggest that EV has no or a minor effect on anthropometric indicators of nutritional status in adolescence.
Highlights
Obesity is influenced by many determinants and risk factors—genetic variations, epigenetics, endocrine diseases, microbial dysbiosis, birth weight, diet, physical activity, sleep, energy expenditure, etc. [1]—and is one of the most challenging problems the public health is faced with at present.The rising prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescence is a concern [2], since it is well documented that overweight or obese adolescents are at increased risk of becoming overweight or obese adults [3]
A single multi-pass 24-h recall was used as a dietary assessment method, while anthropometric indicators of nutritional status included body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and the sum of four skinfolds
The results of this study show that there is no strong connection between anthropometric parameters and EV as well as active energy expenditure during school days (AEEsd), but some new areas have opened up that certainly need further exploration, perhaps further segmentation of EV with additional cut-offs
Summary
Obesity is influenced by many determinants and risk factors—genetic variations, epigenetics, endocrine diseases, microbial dysbiosis, birth weight, diet, physical activity, sleep, energy expenditure, etc. The rising prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescence is a concern [2], since it is well documented that overweight or obese adolescents are at increased risk of becoming overweight or obese adults [3]. The number of adipocytes, which is the major determinant for fat mass in adults, seems to be set during childhood and adolescence and remains the same in adulthood [4]. Numerous scientific papers have unquestionably shown that energy intake surplus can lead to weight gain and, obesity [5]. It is quite unknown whether specific daytime
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