The Gustaf study: Repeated, telephone-administered 24-hour dietary recalls of obese and normal-weight men - Energy and macronutrient intake and distribution over the days of the week

Objective A dietary survey of obese and control men was conducted through 24-hour dietary recalls administered by telephone at 12 times selected randomly over a period of 3 months. Energy and macronutrient intake and distribution were studied for all days of the week. Subjects Eighty-six obese men, 20 to 60 years old, body mass index (BMI) = 37.7 +/- 4.4 (mean +/- standard deviation) from the waiting list of the outpatient clinic and 61 normal-weight (BMI = 23.0 +/- 1.9), age-matched men selected randomly from the Stockholm County Census Bureau. Main outcome measures Energy and macronutrient intake, intakes by energy tertiles, and distribution over the days of the week. Statistical analyses Nonparametric tests were used because of skewed distribution of most food data. Results A median daily energy intake of 2,700 kcal was found in both groups. The obese men reported a higher protein (P < .001) and a lower alcohol (P < .001) intake than the control subjects. Both groups reported a maximum intake of energy and macronutrients on Saturdays. When separated into tertiles according to reported energy intake, the obese men in tertile 3 reported a higher intake from fat (% energy, P < .001) and a lower intake from protein (P < .01) compared with men in tertile 1. Normal-weight men in tertile 3 reported a higher intake from fat (% energy, P < .01) compared with men in tertile 1. Conclusions When reported energy intake was compared with calculated total daily energy expenditure, there was a greater discrepancy in the obese group than in the control group. The normal-weight men may have had a special interest in food and health, and this group may not reflect the population at large.