Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of meal patterns across five European countries using standardized 24-h recall (GloboDiet) data from the EFCOVAL project

  • Original Contribution
  • Published:
European Journal of Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine meal patterns in terms of frequency and circadian timing of eating in five European countries participating in the EFCOVAL project.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 559 men and women, aged 44–65 years, were recruited in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France (Southern part), The Netherlands, and Norway. Dietary data were collected by trained interviewers using standardized computerised 24-h recalls (GloboDiet). Means ± SE of (1) eating frequency, (2) overnight fasting, and (3) time between eating occasions were estimated by country using means from 2 days of 24-h recalls. We also estimated the frequency of eating occasions per hour by country as well as the proportional energy intake of meals/snacks by country compared to the mean energy intake of all countries.

Results

Mean eating frequency ranged from 4.3 times/day in France to 7.1 times/day in The Netherlands (p < 0.05). Mean overnight fasting was shortest in the Netherlands (9.2 h) and longest in Czech Republic (10.9 h) (p < 0.05). Mean time between single eating occasions was shortest in The Netherlands (2.4 h) and longest in France (4.3 h) (p < 0.05). Different patterns of energy intake by meals and snacks throughout the day were observed across the five countries.

Conclusions

We observed distinct differences in meal patterns across the five European countries included in the current study in terms of frequency and circadian timing of eating, and the proportion of energy intake from eating occasions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Renamed in June 2014.

References

  1. Leech RM, Worsley A, Timperio A, McNaughton SA (2015) Understanding meal patterns: definitions, methodology and impact on nutrient intake and diet quality. Nutr Res Rev 28(1):1–21. doi:10.1017/S0954422414000262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Aragon AA, Krieger JW (2015) Effects of meal frequency on weight loss and body composition: a meta-analysis. Nutr Rev 73(2):69–82. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuu017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Schlettwein-gsell D, Decarli B, de Groot L (1999) Meal patterns in the SENECA study of nutrition and the elderly in Europe: assessment method and preliminary results on the role of the midday meal. Appetite 32(1):15–22. doi:10.1006/appe.1998.0191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Matthys C, De Henauw S, Devos C, De Backer G (2003) Estimated energy intake, macronutrient intake and meal pattern of Flemish adolescents. Eur J Clin Nutr 57(2):366–375. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601533

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sjoberg A, Hallberg L, Hoglund D, Hulthen L (2003) Meal pattern, food choice, nutrient intake and lifestyle factors in The Goteborg Adolescence Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 57(12):1569–1578. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601726

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Sjoberg A, Hulthen L (2004) Assessment of habitual meal pattern and intake of foods, energy and nutrients in Swedish adolescent girls: comparison of diet history with 7-day record. Eur J Clin Nutr 58(8):1181–1189. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601947

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Huseinovic E, Winkvist A, Slimani N, Park MK, Freisling H, Boeing H, Buckland G, Schwingshackl L, Weiderpass E, Rostgaard-Hansen AL, Tjonneland A, Affret A, Boutron-Ruault MC, Fagherazzi G, Katzke V, Kuhn T, Naska A, Orfanos P, Trichopoulou A, Pala V, Palli D, Ricceri F, Santucci de Magistris M, Tumino R, Engeset D, Enget T, Skeie G, Barricarte A, Bonet CB, Chirlaque MD, Amiano P, Quiros JR, Sanchez MJ, Dias JA, Drake I, Wennberg M, Boer J, Ocke MC, Verschuren W, Lassale C, Perez-Cornago A, Riboli E, Ward H, Forslund HB (2016) Meal patterns across ten European countries—results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) calibration study. Public Health Nutr:1–12. doi:10.1017/S1368980016001142

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kerver JM, Yang EJ, Obayashi S, Bianchi L, Song WO (2006) Meal and snack patterns are associated with dietary intake of energy and nutrients in US adults. J Am Diet Assoc 106(1):46–53. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2005.09.045

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. de Boer EJ, Slimani N, van ‘t Veer P, Boeing H, Feinberg M, Leclercq C, Trolle E, Amiano P, Andersen LF, Freisling H, Geelen A, Harttig U, Huybrechts I, Kaic-Rak A, Lafay L, Lillegaard IT, Ruprich J, de Vries JH, Ocke MC, Consortium E (2011) Rationale and methods of the European Food Consumption Validation (EFCOVAL) Project. Eur J Clin Nutr 65(Suppl 1):S1–S4. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2011.82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Crispim SP, de Vries JH, Geelen A, Souverein OW, Hulshof PJ, Lafay L, Rousseau AS, Lillegaard IT, Andersen LF, Huybrechts I, De Keyzer W, Ruprich J, Dofkova M, Ocke MC, de Boer E, Slimani N, van’t Veer P (2011) Two non-consecutive 24 h recalls using EPIC-Soft software are sufficiently valid for comparing protein and potassium intake between five European centres–results from the European Food Consumption Validation (EFCOVAL) study. Br J Nutr 105(3):447–458. doi:10.1017/S0007114510003648

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Huybrechts I, Casagrande C, Nicolas G, Geelen A, Crispim SP, De Keyzer W, Freisling H, De Henauw S, De Maeyer M, Krems C, Amiano P, de Boer EJ, Ocke MC, de Vries JH, Slimani N, Consortium E (2011) Inventory of experiences from national/regional dietary monitoring surveys using EPIC-Soft. Eur J Clin Nutr 65(Suppl 1):S16–S28. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2011.84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Crispim SP, Geelen A, Souverein OW, Hulshof PJ, Ruprich J, Dofkova M, Huybrechts I, De Keyzer W, Lillegaard IT, Andersen LF, Lafay L, Rousseau AS, Ocke MC, Slimani N, van ‘t Veer P, de Vries JH, Consortium E (2011) Biomarker-based evaluation of two 24-h recalls for comparing usual fish, fruit and vegetable intakes across European centers in the EFCOVAL Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 65(Suppl 1):S38–S47. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2011.86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. van Kappel AL, Amoyel J, Slimani N (1995) EPIC-soft picture book for estimation of food portion sizes. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon

    Google Scholar 

  14. Wendel-Vos GC, Schuit AJ, Saris WH, Kromhout D (2003) Reproducibility and relative validity of the short questionnaire to assess health-enhancing physical activity. J Clin Epidemiol 56(12):1163–1169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Black AE (2000) Critical evaluation of energy intake using the Goldberg cut-off for energy intake:basal metabolic rate. A practical guide to its calculation, use and limitations. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 24(9):1119–1130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Tooze JA, Krebs-Smith SM, Troiano RP, Subar AF (2012) The accuracy of the Goldberg method for classifying misreporters of energy intake on a food frequency questionnaire and 24-h recalls: comparison with doubly labeled water. Eur J Clin Nutr 66(5):569–576. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2011.198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Chiva M (1997) Cultural aspects of meals and meal frequency. Br J Nutr 77(Suppl 1):S21–S28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Popkin BM, Duffey KJ (2010) Does hunger and satiety drive eating anymore? Increasing eating occasions and decreasing time between eating occasions in the United States. Am J Clin Nutr 91(5):1342–1347. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28962

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Gill S, Panda S (2015) A Smartphone app reveals erratic diurnal eating patterns in humans that can be modulated for health benefits. Cell Metab. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2015.09.005

    Google Scholar 

  20. Toschke AM, Thorsteinsdottir KH, von Kries R, Group GMES (2009) Meal frequency, breakfast consumption and childhood obesity. Int J Pediatr Obes 4(4):242–248. doi:10.3109/17477160902763341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Franko DL, Striegel-Moore RH, Thompson D, Affenito SG, Schreiber GB, Daniels SR, Crawford PB (2008) The relationship between meal frequency and body mass index in black and white adolescent girls: more is less. Int J Obes 32(1):23–29. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803654

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Arciero PJ, Ormsbee MJ, Gentile CL, Nindl BC, Brestoff JR, Ruby M (2013) Increased protein intake and meal frequency reduces abdominal fat during energy balance and energy deficit. Obesity 21(7):1357–1366. doi:10.1002/oby.20296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Gill S, Panda S (2015) A Smartphone App Reveals Erratic Diurnal Eating Patterns in Humans that Can Be Modulated for Health Benefits. Cell Metab 22(5):789–798. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2015.09.005

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Walch OJ, Cochran A, Forger DB (2016) A global quantification of “normal” sleep schedules using smartphone data. Sci Adv 2(5):e1501705. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1501705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. de Groot LC, Verheijden MW, de Henauw S, Schroll M, van Staveren WA, Investigators S (2004) Lifestyle, nutritional status, health, and mortality in elderly people across Europe: a review of the longitudinal results of the SENECA study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 59(12):1277–1284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Smeets AJ, Westerterp-Plantenga MS (2008) Acute effects on metabolism and appetite profile of one meal difference in the lower range of meal frequency. Br J Nutr 99(6):1316–1321. doi:10.1017/S0007114507877646

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Ohkawara K, Cornier MA, Kohrt WM, Melanson EL (2013) Effects of increased meal frequency on fat oxidation and perceived hunger. Obesity 21(2):336–343. doi:10.1002/oby.20032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Seagle HM, Strain GW, Makris A, Reeves RS, American Dietetic A (2009) Position of the American Dietetic Association: weight management. J Am Diet Assoc 109(2):330–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Murakami K, Livingstone MB (2016) Decreasing the number of small eating occasions (<15% of total energy intake) regardless of the time of day may be important to improve diet quality but not adiposity: a cross-sectional study in British children and adolescents. Br J Nutr 115(2):332–341. doi:10.1017/S0007114515004420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Kanarek R (1997) Psychological effects of snacks and altered meal frequency. Br J Nutr 77(Suppl 1):S105–S118 (discussion 118–120)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Ferlay J, Steliarova-Foucher E, Lortet-Tieulent J, Rosso S, Coebergh JW, Comber H, Forman D, Bray F (2013) Cancer incidence and mortality patterns in Europe: estimates for 40 countries in 2012. Eur J Cancer 49(6):1374–1403. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2012.12.027

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Ma Y, Bertone ER, Stanek EJ 3rd, Reed GW, Hebert JR, Cohen NL, Merriam PA, Ockene IS (2003) Association between eating patterns and obesity in a free-living US adult population. Am J Epidemiol 158(1):85–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Bellisle F, Dalix AM, Mennen L, Galan P, Hercberg S, de Castro JM, Gausseres N (2003) Contribution of snacks and meals in the diet of French adults: a diet-diary study. Physiol Behav 79(2):183–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Marinac CR, Sears DD, Natarajan L, Gallo LC, Breen CI, Patterson RE (2015) Frequency and Circadian Timing of Eating May Influence Biomarkers of Inflammation and Insulin Resistance Associated with Breast Cancer Risk. PloS one 10(8):e0136240. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0136240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Leech RM, Worsley A, Timperio A, McNaughton SA (2015) Characterizing eating patterns: a comparison of eating occasion definitions. Am J Clin Nutr 102(5):1229–1237. doi:10.3945/ajcn.115.114660

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Murakami K, Livingstone MB (2016) Associations between meal and snack frequency and diet quality in US adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2012. J Acad Nutr Diet 116(7):1101–1113. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2015.12.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Marinac CR, Natarajan L, Sears DD, Gallo LC, Hartman SJ, Arredondo E, Patterson RE (2015) Prolonged nightly fasting and breast cancer risk: findings from NHANES (2009–2010). Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 24(5):783–789. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-1292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Slimani N, Deharveng G, Charrondiere RU, van Kappel AL, Ocke MC, Welch A, Lagiou A, van Liere M, Agudo A, Pala V, Brandstetter B, Andren C, Stripp C, van Staveren WA, Riboli E (1999) Structure of the standardized computerized 24-h diet recall interview used as reference method in the 22 centers participating in the EPIC project. European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Comput Methods Progr Biomed 58(3):251–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Ms Flavie Perrier and Dr Nada Assi for their contributions to statistical advice on the analyses. This study was undertaken during the tenure of a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the IARC, partially supported by the European Commission FP7 Marie Curie Actions—People—Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372, Lyon, France

    Min Kyung Park, Heinz Freisling, Inge Huybrechts & Nadia Slimani

  2. Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Ena Huseinovic & Anna Winkvist

  3. Nutritional Research, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    Anna Winkvist

  4. Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Parana, Avenida Prefeito Lothário Meissner, 632, Curitiba, Paraná, 80210-170, Brazil

    Sandra Patricia Crispim

  5. Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Jeanne H. M. de Vries & Anouk Geelen

  6. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    Maryse Niekerk & Caroline van Rossum

Authors
  1. Min Kyung Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Heinz Freisling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ena Huseinovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Anna Winkvist
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Inge Huybrechts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Sandra Patricia Crispim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jeanne H. M. de Vries
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Anouk Geelen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Maryse Niekerk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Caroline van Rossum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Nadia Slimani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Consortia

On behalf of the EFCOVAL study group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nadia Slimani.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Park, M.K., Freisling, H., Huseinovic, E. et al. Comparison of meal patterns across five European countries using standardized 24-h recall (GloboDiet) data from the EFCOVAL project. Eur J Nutr 57, 1045–1057 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1388-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1388-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation