PURPOSE: To evaluate the extent to which levels of physical activity and nutrient intake aggregate in families, and secondarily, to assess the repeatability of these behavioral measures over a 5-year period. METHODS: Measurements were obtained in a population-based sample consisting of 1364 members of 42 large Mexican American families. Nutrient intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire validated for use in this population. Usual level of physical activity was estimated using a 7-day recall questionnaire. RESULTS: Correlations between baseline (obtained 1992-1995) and follow-up (obtained 1996 to 2000) measures of all behaviors were highly significant (p < 0.001), ranging from 0.24 for % of calories derived from fat to 0.44 for % of calories derived from alcohol. Familial effects, estimated using variance component methods, were stronger when modeled as a genetic heritability than as a shared household effect; as a heritability they accounted for a significant portion of the total variation of all traits (9% for physical activity levels, p < 0.05; and 13-26% for nutrient intake, p < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of physical activity and dietary behaviors in this population tracked over 5 years, and there was a significant degree of aggregation of these behaviors within families. Understanding the sources of these family effects may facilitate efforts to improve cardiovascular health.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the extent to which levels of physical activity and nutrient intake aggregate in families, and secondarily, to assess the repeatability of these behavioral measures over a 5-year period. METHODS: Measurements were obtained in a population-based sample consisting of 1364 members of 42 large Mexican American families. Nutrient intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire validated for use in this population. Usual level of physical activity was estimated using a 7-day recall questionnaire. RESULTS: Correlations between baseline (obtained 1992-1995) and follow-up (obtained 1996 to 2000) measures of all behaviors were highly significant (p < 0.001), ranging from 0.24 for % of calories derived from fat to 0.44 for % of calories derived from alcohol. Familial effects, estimated using variance component methods, were stronger when modeled as a genetic heritability than as a shared household effect; as a heritability they accounted for a significant portion of the total variation of all traits (9% for physical activity levels, p < 0.05; and 13-26% for nutrient intake, p < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of physical activity and dietary behaviors in this population tracked over 5 years, and there was a significant degree of aggregation of these behaviors within families. Understanding the sources of these family effects may facilitate efforts to improve cardiovascular health.
Authors: Tracy Dearth-Wesley; Penny Gordon-Larsen; Linda S Adair; Anna Maria Siega-Riz; Bing Zhang; Barry M Popkin Journal: J Nutr Date: 2011-07-06 Impact factor: 4.798
Authors: Laura M Koehly; June A Peters; Regina Kenen; Lindsey M Hoskins; Anne L Ersig; Natalia R Kuhn; Jennifer T Loud; Mark H Greene Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2009-10-15 Impact factor: 9.308