INTRODUCTION: The nutrition transition from traditional to Western dietary patterns could account for the dramatic rise in the prevalence of obesity in Italy (1). AIMS & METHODS: We describe the dietary patterns in a group of obese Italian female patients. A retrospective survey was conducted on the records of 113 obese (BMI 40.27.0 kg/m2) female inpatients aged 19-60 y (mean 40.5 y). Anthropometric measurements and dietary patterns were obtained from therecords. Dietary habits were recorded by detailed questioning and computed database determined the nutrient intakes. The recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) for the Italian population were used as the reference range. The sample was also divided, according to age, into three groups (19-35y, 36-45y, 46-60y). Statistical analysis was performed by PASW 18.0. RESULTS: The table shows the variations, as percentages, of the nutrient intakes over or below the RDAs. The values are expressed as 50th (25th, 75th) percentile. Animal protein intakes averaged 266% over the RDAs in the whole sample, with median variations from 241 to 278% among the age groups. The intake rates of total carbohydrates (CHO) were minimally higher on average (15-19%) than the RDAs. The simple CHO intake averaged 67-90% over RDAs. The OMEGA-6/OMEGA-3 fatty acid ratio was about 100% over the RDA, without significant differences among age groups. Moreover the intakes of !-6 fatty acids was 64% over the RDA, but in the younger group the variation rate from the RDA was significantly higher (72%, p<0.05) than in the older group (50%). Nutrients with protective effects, such as PUFA and OMEGA-3 fatty acids, averaged 35-48% and 11-19% below RDAs, respectively. CONCLUSION: We observed that the highest variation rates were not found for total carbohydrates or simple carbohydrates, as could be expected, but for fat and protein, and especially for animal protein. Moreover the excessive consumption OMEGA-6 fatty acid, with unbalanced OMEGA-6/OMEGA-3 fatty acid ratio, could show a tendency to change the traditional Italian diet towards Western eating habits. However there was no significant difference between younger and older people.
IS THE TRADITIONAL DIET DISAPPEARING AT THE SAME TIME AS THE PREVALENCE OF OBESITY IS INCREASING IN ITALY? EVALUATION OF EATING HABITS IN A GROUP OF ITALIAN OBESE FEMALE PATIENTS
CANDUCCI, Edgardo;RAVANI, Bruna;ALVISI, Vittorio;RICCI, Giorgio
2014
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The nutrition transition from traditional to Western dietary patterns could account for the dramatic rise in the prevalence of obesity in Italy (1). AIMS & METHODS: We describe the dietary patterns in a group of obese Italian female patients. A retrospective survey was conducted on the records of 113 obese (BMI 40.27.0 kg/m2) female inpatients aged 19-60 y (mean 40.5 y). Anthropometric measurements and dietary patterns were obtained from therecords. Dietary habits were recorded by detailed questioning and computed database determined the nutrient intakes. The recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) for the Italian population were used as the reference range. The sample was also divided, according to age, into three groups (19-35y, 36-45y, 46-60y). Statistical analysis was performed by PASW 18.0. RESULTS: The table shows the variations, as percentages, of the nutrient intakes over or below the RDAs. The values are expressed as 50th (25th, 75th) percentile. Animal protein intakes averaged 266% over the RDAs in the whole sample, with median variations from 241 to 278% among the age groups. The intake rates of total carbohydrates (CHO) were minimally higher on average (15-19%) than the RDAs. The simple CHO intake averaged 67-90% over RDAs. The OMEGA-6/OMEGA-3 fatty acid ratio was about 100% over the RDA, without significant differences among age groups. Moreover the intakes of !-6 fatty acids was 64% over the RDA, but in the younger group the variation rate from the RDA was significantly higher (72%, p<0.05) than in the older group (50%). Nutrients with protective effects, such as PUFA and OMEGA-3 fatty acids, averaged 35-48% and 11-19% below RDAs, respectively. CONCLUSION: We observed that the highest variation rates were not found for total carbohydrates or simple carbohydrates, as could be expected, but for fat and protein, and especially for animal protein. Moreover the excessive consumption OMEGA-6 fatty acid, with unbalanced OMEGA-6/OMEGA-3 fatty acid ratio, could show a tendency to change the traditional Italian diet towards Western eating habits. However there was no significant difference between younger and older people.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
