Energy density of the diet and change in body fatness from childhood to adolescence: is there a relation?

Background: The contribution of energy density (ED) of the total
diet to increased risk of obesity from childhood into adolescence is
unclear.
Objective: We assessed the relation between the ED of the diet in
childhood, calculated in a number of ways, and change in adiposity
from childhood to adolescence.
Design: In a prospective study, 48 children (30 boys, 18 girls) were
initially studied at age 6 – 8 y (baseline) and followed up at age
13–17 y. Daily ED, energy intake, and food intake were assessed at
baseline by 7-d weighed food records concurrent with estimates of
total energy expenditure (TEE) by doubly labeled water. ED was
calculated with the use of 5 published methods. Obesity risk was
defined with the use of body fat from total body water by isotope
dilution. Body fat was normalized for height and expressed as fat
mass index (FMI). Change in adiposity was calculated as follow-up
FMI minus baseline FMI.
Results: Misreporting of energy intake at the group level at baseline
was low relative to the TEE. ED of the total diet at baseline by the 3
methods for calculating ED that excluded all or most beverages was
prospectively associated with change in FMI. However, ED of the
total diet by any of the methods was not associated with change in the
percentage body fat, body mass index, or waist circumference z
scores.
Conclusion: The methods used to calculateEDand to assess obesity
risk lead to different conclusions about the relation between the ED
of the diet in childhood and gain in fat into adolescence.