Cravings, sugar and fat consumption as determinant factors of obesity in young adults in Juarez City

Introduction: obesity is a global health epidemic and understanding its causes is essential for successful treatment and prevention. Cravings have been associated with the excessive consumption of sugars and fats, and addictive eating behavior. Objective: to determine the strength of the relationship between cravings, the consumption of sugar and fat, and its impact on body composition as determined via body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP) and waist circumference (WC) in a sample of Mexicans who reside close to the Mexico-U.S. border. Methods: the sample was comprised of 159 young adults with a mean age of 27.96 +/- 6.19, 45.9% of which were male, and all residents of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Cravings were measured using Trait and State Food Cravings Questionnaires. The consumption of sugars and fats was determined via a 24-hour recall of foods consumed and a food consumption frequency questionnaire. Results: it was demonstrated that BMI and BFP were positively associated with responses to the craving questionnaires and WC with fat consumption. Additionally, higher fat consumption was positively associated with higher rates of obesity. Conclusions: the results demonstrate the need to identify the presence of cravings and integrate such measures for effective prevention and treatment of obesity.