In modern diet, meat and sugar food components contribute to worldwide obesity at similar levels

Wenpeng You, Maciej Henneberg

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperChapter

Abstract

The public have been educated that sugar intake should be minimized to avoid obesity, but no such recommendation regarding meat exists. Country-specific Body Mass Index (BMI) estimates of obesity and overweight were obtained. These were matched with country-specific per capita per day availability of major food groups (meat, sugar, starch crops, fibers, fats and fruits), total calories, per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP PPP), urbanization and physical inactivity prevalence. Fisher’s r-to-z transformation and Beta (B) range (B ± 2 Standard Error) overlapping were used to test for potential differences between correlations and regressions results respectively. Pearson correlation showed that sugar and meat availability significantly correlated with obesity prevalence to the same extent. These relationships remained in partial correlation analysis (r=0.359, p<0.001 and r=0.354, p<0.001 respectively) when controlling for calories availability, physical inactivity, urbanization and GDP PPP. Fisher's r-to-z transformation revealed no significant difference in Pearson correlation coefficients (z=-0.53, p=0.60), partial correlation coefficients (z=-0.04, p=0.97) between sugar and meat availability with obesity prevalence. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that sugar and meat availability were the two most significant predictors of obesity prevalence in both Enter (B=0.455, SE=0.113, p<0.001 and B=0.381, SE=0.096, p<0.001, respectively) and Stepwise (B=0.464, SE=0.093, p<0.001 and B=0.433, SE=0.072, p<0.001, respectively) models. B ranges overlapping found in the Enter (0.289-0.573) and Stepwise (0.294-0.582) models showed sugar and meat availability correlated to obesity with no statistically significant difference. Sugar and meat availability comparably contributes to global obesity prevalence. Dietary guidelines should also advocate to minimize meat consumption to avoid obesity. Similar to the public campaign against excessive sugar consumption, considering the findings of adverse effects of meat on obesity and the environmental impact of meat production, the country authorities should also advise the public not to adopt a high-meat diet for long-term healthy weight management.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCurrent Research in Agricultural and Food Science. Vol. 3
EditorsAhmed M. Al-Naggar
Place of PublicationIndia
PublisherBook Publisher International
Pages46-62
Number of pages17
ISBN (Electronic)9789390431632
ISBN (Print)9789390431687
Publication statusPublished - 2020

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