Overweight and Obese Children Eat Less Than Their Healthy Weight Peers

[Azure]

Overweight and Obese Children Eat Less Than Their Healthy Weight Peers

May 11, 2010 (Vancouver, British Columbia) — A study on caloric intake in a large, nationwide population of children and adolescents has revealed the surprising finding that those who are clinically overweight and obese consume fewer calories than their healthy weight counterparts, beginning at around 7 years of age.

Children younger than 2 years of age who were overweight/obese consumed a daily average of 1594 kcal; those who were healthy weight consumed 1389 kcal. But the pattern "had flipped" in 9 to 11 year olds, with the daily caloric intake of overweight/obese children being 1988 kcal and that of healthy weight children being 2069 kcal.

The pattern continued into adolescence. Those 15 to 17 years of age who were overweight/obese consumed 2271 kcal daily, whereas their healthy weight counterparts consumed 2537 kcal.

"These are intriguing findings, but it is worth remembering that there are studies that have demonstrated that those with a higher body mass index are likely to underreport their caloric intake," Jason A. Mendoza, MD, MPH, assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, told Medscape Pediatrics.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/721613

Of course, it is rather obvious that non-overweight kids will more than likely be more active, which will result in them not becoming obese. Non-overweight kids probably eat healthier as well, and their metabolism and insulin isn't shot to crap because of crazy fluctuation in eating schedules, and WHAT they actually eat.

Just goes to show that live an active lifestyle, get a set amount of exercise, and eat healthy, and you probably won't run into weight problems.

[burn_this_city]

So are they big boned or is it glandular?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

it is worth remembering that there are studies that have demonstrated that those with a higher body mass index are likely to underreport their caloric intake

So the study means nothing because the fatties lied about how much they ate.

[Locke]

Was this study conducted over cake and yoo-hoos?

[SebC]

Maybe it's because by the time they cut down on how much they eat it's already too late?

[Phanuthier]

I'm not surprised. I eat the most out of my friends (5 meals a day) and I'm pretty skinny. And I don't mean 5 small meals, I sometimes order 2 meals when I go out to eat. It's all about lifestyle, I either go climbing, soccer or various other physical stuff 6x's a week and it keeps me sharp not just physically, but mentally. The only other guy I know that eats as much as me is skinny too, and he works out 5x's a week. (we go to the same gym / roomates)

[puckluck]

2 big mac meals supersized a day compared to 4 healthy meals a day?

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I'm not surprised. I eat the most out of my friends (5 meals a day) and I'm pretty skinny. And I don't mean 5 small meals, I sometimes order 2 meals when I go out to eat. It's all about lifestyle, I either go climbing, soccer or various other physical stuff 6x's a week and it keeps me sharp not just physically, but mentally. The only other guy I know that eats as much as me is skinny too, and he works out 5x's a week. (we go to the same gym / roomates)

And when you hit 45, all things being equal, you start gaining weight, what changed ?

I've been on both sides of the fence, it's not that simple and science has allot to learn.

Look what happens to most women after they have children, they are far more active yet they gain weight.

[IliketoPuck]

Weight gain is pretty simple genetics or no.

If intake > output you get weight gain.

If intake =< output you get stable weight/weight loss.

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Weight gain is pretty simple genetics or no.

If intake > output you get weight gain.

If intake =< output you get stable weight/weight loss.

In the end it comes down to this. Sure, the rate at which your body burns calories can be effected by your metabolic rate, genetics, hormones, whatever... to a point... but in the end, some self diagnosed "glandular problem" won't allow your body to violate the laws of thermodynamics.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Pinner

And when you hit 45, all things being equal, you start gaining weight, what changed ?

I've been on both sides of the fence, it's not that simple and science has allot to learn.

Look what happens to most women after they have children, they are far more active yet they gain weight.

You lose lean body mass and your metabolism slows down as you get older.

That is why old people gain weight.

[Pinner]

Am I the only guy that has had a best friend eat 3x the food I eat and we are doing the exact same things and he was so skinny and I was a normal weight ?

I've known a few guys like that, my brother inlaw is like that, he doesn't have a spare pound on him and he is 50? If he got sick he would die of starvation and he eats like crazy.

I don't think you have to be old to have a very efficient body, think about it as a survival mechanism. Food wasn't always easy to get you know, a heavy calorie burner may not have survived the lean times or illnesses for the last million years.

[IliketoPuck]

I understand as you get older, it is more difficult to keep the weight off due to metabolic changes in your body. But even if you are 60, my post above holds true. My pops is 60, and he looks like he's 45, he's in great shape and leads an active lifestyle, sure his metabolism has slown down since he was a younger man, but he is still able to remain at the same weight due to a combination of diet and exrcise.

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by Pinner

Am I the only guy that has had a best friend eat 3x the food I eat and we are doing the exact same things and he was so skinny and I was a normal weight ?

I've known a few guys like that, my brother inlaw is like that, he doesn't have a spare pound on him and he is 50? If he got sick he would die of starvation and he eats like crazy.

I don't think you have to be old to have a very efficient body, think about it as a survival mechanism. Food wasn't always easy to get you know, a heavy calorie burner may not have survived the lean times or illnesses.

I have a few friends like this, no matter how much they eat, or what they eat they can't gain any weight, yet if I drink the same amount of beer/eat the same amount and type of food I have to hit the gym hard...everyone is different I suppose.

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

I have a few friends like this, no matter how much they eat, or what they eat they can't gain any weight, yet if I drink the same amount of beer/eat the same amount and type of food I have to hit the gym hard...everyone is different I suppose.

There are many more factors that lead to weight loss or putting on the pounds for instance the amount of water a person drinks in a day and not just because you may be substituting the water for a can of coke either.

[FlamesAddiction]

Active people tend to have better metabolisms and can eat more than someone who is inactive. No real surprise there.

Lack of excercise is the bigger issue I think.

[Pinner]

Genetics Puck, genetics.

If someones fat lazy brother dies of heart disease, no mater how healthy the other brother lives his life, he will likely die the same way.

Body weight is the same, it's all genetics.

[IliketoPuck]

Absolutely, there are many factors. But with those friends, they LOVE fast food, and eat it all the time. I might have some chicken nuggets twice a year, and don't drink soft drinks, but I do like a few beers once a week....and they never put on weight it is shocking how different their metabolism is from mine.

As an aside, I'm very active myself, and just finished my first 90 days of p90x, and play soccer 4 times a week, yet their metabolism still kicks mine in the pants haha.

[DropIt]

Next they should do a study on how much the healthy kids went outside and excersized while the fat kids were only eating less becuase they were glued to the tv

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by DropIt

Next they should do a study on how much the healthy kids went outside and excersized while the fat kids were only eating less becuase they were glued to the tv

I think the study is already inherently flawed because of the objectivity of the calorie intake reported.

There is also a difference between an overwieght kid playing video games and eating icecream than a regular weight kid running around the playground and eating icecream.