A positive correlation between energy intake and body mass index in a population of 1312 overweight subjects.

The energy intake (EI) of 1312 overweight subjects was assessed using the research dietary history method. EI was positively associated with overweight--as expressed by the body mass index (BMI)--in both males and females. Such findings are at variance with earlier reports of low dietary intakes in the obese and of an inverse relationship between EI and BMI. This discrepancy could be related to the dietary-interviews method used and/or to differences in the degree of motivation of the obese subjects in the various studies. On the other hand, our results are consistent with the positive relationship between energy expenditure (EE) and BMI previously reported in the literature and with the expected EE of our subjects.