Food consumption patterns in Mediterranean adolescents: are there differences between overweight and normal-weight adolescents?

OBJECTIVE: To quantify food consumption (based on food group classification) during several time periods in a sample of adolescents and to identify potential differences in food patterns between normal-weight and overweight participants. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Participants were classified as normal weight and overweight/obese. Dietary intake was assessed by 3-day food records and analyzed at the food group level for 7 different time periods. To exploit the time dimension of the data and to further control for the influence of other covariates, the authors estimated a random effects regression model for panel data. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twenty students. SETTING: Two high schools. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, no statistically significant differences were found between normal-weight and overweight adolescents with regard to their consumption patterns throughout the day. However, compared to females, male participants had higher intake of all food groups with the exception of fruit, and adolescents engaging in vigorous exercise tended to consume more servings from all food groups during any given time period. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: No preferential use of some food or food groups in specific day periods was found among overweight compared to normal-weight high school students.