ABSTRACT

Objective: Obesity is the source of many health problems in Guadeloupe. The aim of this study was to describe the relationships between daily energy intake and expenditure, and weight status.

Methods: Three consecutive daily recalls for activities and food intake were used to assess energy expenditure and energy intake in 20- to 60-year old Guadeloupian men and women.

Results: The absolute daily energy expenditure was correlated to the body weight (r = 0.64, p > 0.001) and to the daily energy intake with more strength in the normal-weight group (r = 0.52, p < 0.001) than in the overweight group (r = 0.26, p < 0.05). In both weight groups, the higher the metabolism was, the larger was the difference between energy intake and energy expenditure.

Conclusion: Under-reporting was probably present in overweight women. However, higher energy intake and expenditure were observed in larger persons who were consequently not identified as less
active.