[Eating Frequency and Gestational Weight Gain and Its Association with Birth Body Mass of Neonates: a Birth Cohort Study].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of eating frequency (EF) and gestational weight gain (GWG) with birth body mass of neonates. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 578 healthy pregnant women from April to October 2015. Dietary intake and physical activity data per trimester were collected using a questionnaire. Data in relation to gestational body mass,gestational stage and birth body mass of neonates were obtained from clinical records. Multiple logistic regression models were established to test the impacts of EF and GWG on appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the association between EF and birth body mass of neonates. RESULTS: A final sample of 503 eligible pregnant women (87.02%) was included in data analyses. Higher EF [odds ratio (OR)=2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18-3.47] and snacks (OR=1.84; 95%CI: 1.08-3.15) in the first trimester were associated with increased risk of excessive GWG,after controlling for maternal age,education,average household income,physicalactivity,numbers of pregnancy,numbers of delivery,and dietary intake (protein,fat,carbohydrate). A meal frequency greater (OR=2.83; 95%CI: 1.07-4.58) or less (OR=1.92; 95%CI: 1.08-3.61) than three in the first trimester was also associated with increased risk of large or small for gestational age. Meal frequency in the first trimester was positively correlated with birth body mass of neonates (ß=236.17; P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Frequent eating and snacks in the first trimester are associated with increased risks of excessive GWG. Meal frequency in the first trimester is also positively correlated with birth body mass of neonates: three meals per day is a protective factor of AGA.

Dietary energy density is positively associated with body composition of adults in Southwest China.

OBJECTIVE: Dietary energy density (ED) might have influences on body composition. We therefore examined whether ED is associated with body composition among Chinese adults. DESIGN: We collected dietary data through validated two-day 24 h recalls. ED, defined as the amount of energy per unit weight of food consumed, was calculated based on five methods. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to explore the associations between ED and body composition parameters, including BMI, fat mass index (FMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI), percentage body fat (%BF) and waist circumference (WC). SETTING: Southwest China. SUBJECTS: Chinese adults (n 1933) in 2013. RESULTS: After adjusting the covariates, all ED definitions were positively associated with BMI, FMI, FFMI, %BF and WC among women (P<0·01). In men, however, ED with foods only was positively associated with BMI, FMI, FFMI and %BF (P<0·05), but not with WC (P=0·07); we also found null associations between ED with foods and all beverages and body composition among men. Additionally, ED contributed to higher increases of body composition in women than in men (P<0·01). CONCLUSIONS: The present study supports the positive association between ED and body composition among adults in Southwest China, in which beverages may play an important role.

Television Watching and Telomere Length Among Adults in Southwest China.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the independent associations of sedentary behavior and physical activity with telomere length among Chinese adults. METHODS: Data on total time of sedentary behavior, screen-based sedentary behavior (including television watching and computer or phone use), moderate to vigorous physical activity, and dietary intake of 518 adults in Chengdu, Guizhou, and Xiamen in China (54.25% women) aged 20 to 70 years were obtained between 2013 and 2015 through questionnaires. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured to calculate body mass index and percentage of body fat. Telomere length was measured through Southern blot technique. RESULTS: Television watching was inversely related to adjusted telomere length (-71.75 base pair; SE = 34.40; P = .04). Furthermore, a similar trend between telomere length and television watching was found in the group aged 20 to 40 years after adjusting for all covariates. Adults aged 20 to 40 years in the highest tertile of daily time spent on watching television had 4.0% shorter telomere length than adults in the lowest tertile (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Although the association is modest, television watching is inversely related to telomere length among Chinese adults, warranting further investigation in large prospective studies.