An epidemiologic study of food consumption habits in Germany

Food consumption habits were studied in subgroups of subjects in the German Nutrition Survey (Nationale Verzehrstudie [NVS]) on the basis of body weight. Our study was performed in an 18- to 88-year-old representative subgroup of 2,006 noninstitutionalized volunteers with no significant pathology (known as the Verbundstudie, Ernährungserhebung, und Risikofaktorenanalytik [VERA] subgroup). Using the German Food Code, food and nutrient intakes were calculated from 7-day dietary records. A stratification analysis was used to determine significant differences in food consumption habits of overweight subjects in comparison to normal-weight subjects. The results showed an increase in the prevalence of overweight (body mass index [BMI], 25 to 30) with age, from 15% in the group aged 18 to 24 years to 50% in the group aged more than 55 years. The prevalence of severe overweight (BMI, 30 to 40) increased from 3% to 17% in the same age groups, whereas morbid obesity (BMI, > 40) was found in only 0.4% of the study population. The calculated daily energy intake showed only a very weak correlation with BMI, probably because individual energy requirements and expenditures were not taken into account. However, differences were found between BMI subgroups in terms of the types of food consumed: a high BMI was associated with a higher consumption of meat and meat products but a lower consumption of milk and dairy products and bread and other cereal-based foods. In terms of nutrients, a high BMI was associated with a higher intake of fat and protein and a lower intake of carbohydrates. Snack consumption was observed in 78% of the study population. On average, 8.7% of consumed calories originated from snacks, and 5.5% of the study population derived more than 20% of their total energy intake from snacks. Obese subjects with a high fat intake consumed more sugar than lean subjects with a similar high fat intake.