The relation between overweight and subjective health according to age, social class, slimming behavior and smoking habits in Dutch adults.

Subjective health status was assessed in relation to overweight by administering a list of 51 health complaints to adult men and women who were either chronically overweight as defined by Body Mass Index (BMI) or not overweight, in a continuous morbidity registration in four general practices during the period 1967-83. Responses were received from 455 men (182 overweight) and 790 women (386 overweight), ages 26-66 years. Response rate (71 per cent) and age distribution (mean age 48) were similar in overweight and non-overweight groups of both sexes.

Adaptation of energy metabolism of overweight women to low-energy intake, studied with whole-body calorimeters.

In 14 overweight women, 24-h energy expenditure (EE) was measured in a whole-body indirect calorimeter: before weight reduction (100% diet), after 1 wk on a 4.2-MJ diet, after 8 wk on 4.2-MJ diet, after weight reduction on 100% diet.

A multi-centre study on within-person variability in the urinary excretion of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and creatinine in 8 European centres.

We have studied the within-person variability in the excretion of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and creatinine in 20-60-year old men and women from 8 European centres. Only the data from people who reported that their collections were complete were entered in the analysis. The within-person coefficients of variation for the electrolytes ranged from 28 to 38 and that for creatinine from 21 to 24.

Comparison of contemporaneous and retrospective estimates of food consumption made by a dietary history method.

In 1983 the relative validity of a retrospective dietary history method was assessed against a current dietary history taken seven years previously in 1976 and a second current dietary history taken in 1983. In total, 44 men and 58 women, aged 38 to 62 years, participated in the study. For energy intake and for most nutrients, the relative difference between the results obtained with the retrospective dietary history and the current dietary history in 1976 was below 15% and for six of the 11 nutrients below 10%.

A multi-centre study on completeness of urine collection in 11 European centres. I. Some problems with the use of creatinine and 4-aminobenzoic acid as markers of the completeness of collection.

We have studied the completeness of urine collections in 11 European centres. The completeness of collection was examined by questioning the participants, by calculating the ratio of observed to expected creatinine, and by measuring the recovery of p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) in the urine after administration of a 240 mg dose. The ratio of observed to expected creatinine is a fairly insensitive measure of undercollection.

Associations of moderate and severe overweight with self-reported illness and medical care in Dutch adults.

Data on height, weight, illness, medical care consumption, and demographic variables for 19,126 Dutch adults aged 20 years or older were obtained from three annual Health Interview Surveys. Data on severely overweight (Body Mass Index 30.0-40.

Overweight and chronic illness--a retrospective cohort study, with a follow-up of 6-17 years, in men and women of initially 20-50 years of age.

A retrospective cohort-study with a follow-up of 6-17 years was carried out in four general practices in the Netherlands in the period 1967-1983. In total 317 overweight men and 565 overweight women were followed in a continuous morbidity registration, starting in the year they were diagnosed as overweight (at age 20-50 years). Incidence of illnesses in this group was compared to that in a control group (444 men and 627 women not registered overweight), matched on sex, age and calendar-year at start of follow-up.

Seasonal variation in food intake, pattern of physical activity and change in body weight in a group of young adult Dutch women consuming self-selected diets.

The effect of season on the energy balance was examined in 114 young adult Dutch women consuming self-selected diets. Energy intakes and patterns of physical activity were assessed monthly 14 times with the 24-h recall method. After this period of 14 months, in the second year the same estimates were made with intervals of 2-3 months to check if the seasonal variations observed were not accidental.

Food consumption and height/weight status of Dutch preschool children on alternative diets.

The effects of alternative dietary practices on nutrient intake and height/weight status were studied in three groups of Dutch preschool children: 33 vegetarians, 26 anthroposophics, and 33 macrobiotics. Fifty children on omnivorus diets composed the control group. The children fed vegetarian and anthroposophic diets were somewhat lighter and shorter than the children on omnivorous diets but were within normal limits.

[Health and nutritional status of 'alternatively' fed infants and young children, facts and uncertainties. II. Specific nutritional deficiencies; discussion].

This article, which is the second in a series of two articles, discusses available scientific information on the nutritional status of infants and preschool children on alternative diets with regard to calcium, iron, vitamin B12 and D. Some favourable aspects of alternative food habits in such children are also mentioned. Most studies report low intakes of vitamin D and in vegan and macrobiotic children also of calcium and vitamin B12, but it cannot be excluded that some alternative sources of these nutrient may have been missed.

[Health and nutritional status of 'alternatively' fed infants and young children, facts and uncertainties. I. Definitions and general health status indicators].

In this first article out of a series of two articles, a critical review of available scientific information on the nutritional consequences of alternative and especially vegan-type food habits in infants and preschool children is presented. This article involves definitions and information on general health indicators, such as the health of mothers during pregnancy and the growth and development of children. Some difficulties in interpreting available literature are also discussed.

Intakes of energy, protein and calcium and weaning pattern of a group of Dutch infants aged 6-12 months.

The intakes of energy, protein and calcium of 76 infants aged 6-12 months was investigated using a five day weighing record method. Average daily energy intake was 380 kJ/kg/day; the average daily intake of protein was 3.8 g/kg/day and the average calcium intake was 785 mg per day.

Fat distribution of overweight persons in relation to morbidity and subjective health.

The association between fat distribution, morbidity and subjective health was studied in 95 overweight adult men and 210 overweight adult women. Retrospective morbidity data were taken from a continuous morbidity registration made by general practitioners over a period of maximally 17 years. In addition information about subjective health and weight history was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire.

The effect of dietary sodium on urinary calcium and potassium excretion in normotensive men with different calcium intakes.

On the basis of their usual calcium intake, 12 healthy normotensive male students were divided into a low and a high calcium group. Both groups were provided with complete diets containing the same calculated quantities, expressed per MJ, of protein, fat, carbohydrate, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. After an initial period of two weeks during which all participants received an additional 100 mmol sodium daily, 6 participants received an additional 22 mmol sodium/day (low sodium), the other 6 participants 178 mmol sodium/day (high sodium).

Human energy metabolism below, near and above energy equilibrium.

Complete 24 h energy and nitrogen balances were measured for fifteen subjects at three levels of energy intake and for two other subjects at two levels of intake. At each level, the fifteen subjects ate diets consisting of fifteen to twenty separate foods for 7 or 8 d. Faeces and urine were collected for the final 4 d.

An assessment of the relative validity of retrospective interviewing for measuring dietary intake.

The relative validity of a method for determining dietary intake four years previously was assessed. In May 1981, 79 people (46 women and 33 men, aged 29-69 years) were interviewed by use of the dietary history method concerning dietary intake in 1977. These results were compared with those obtained in this same group by means of a seven-day record in February 1977.

Determinants of total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol in boys from Finland, The Netherlands, Italy, the Philippines and Ghana with special reference to diet.

We have studied the determinants of total and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in young boys from five countries characterized by different lifestyles, dietary consumption profiles and mortality rates from coronary heart disease. All measurements including the estimation of dietary intake, physical activity, body mass index and the concentrations of total and HDL cholesterol were carefully standardized. The mean concentrations of total and HDL cholesterol were higher in the European boys (4.

Faecal excretion of bile acids and neutral steroids on diets differing in type and amount of dietary fat in young healthy persons.

The effect of different amounts and types of dietary fat on faecal steroid excretion in healthy volunteers was examined. In the first experiment with sixty volunteers four diets which differed in type and amount of dietary fat only were compared during a test-period of 5 weeks. Faeces were collected during 7 days before and at the end of the test period and analysed individually.

Nutrition and HDL in children and young adults.

Serum samples were collected from 7- and 8-year-old boys in 16 countries with different rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality. Both serum total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterols were lower in developing countries than in affluent countries. The mean of the HDL cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio varied within narrow limits: 0.

Obesity in young Dutch adults: II, daily life-style and body mass index.

The relationships between aspects of daily life-style and age, level of education, and body mass index (BMI; weight/height) were studied in young adult males (n = 1765) and females (n = 2092) in three age groups (19-21, 24-26 and 29-31 yr) in a Dutch population. By means of principal-components analysis five conceptually meaningful factors could be distinguished within the aspects of daily life-style which were considered. These factors were interpreted as constructs of: (1) slimming behaviour; (2) behaviour characterized by the consumption of coffee and alcohol, smoking habits and the number of hours sleep per night (CASS behaviour); (3) eating sweet and savoury snacks between meals; (4) health-conscious behaviour; and (5) physical activity.

Obesity in young Dutch adults: I, socio-demographic variables and body mass index.

The simultaneous contribution of various socio-demographic variables to body mass index (BMI; weight/height) was studied in young adults in three age groups (19-21, 24-26 and 29-31 yr) in a Dutch population. Medians of the BMI of males (n = 1765) and females (n = 2092) were 23.1 and 21.