Abstract

Objective: Egg is the vital source for many nutrients. The present study aimed to evaluate how egg consumption contributes to body fat mass and fat distribution in general Chinese adults.

Methods: In a representative study of Chinese adults, 2241 rural adults aged 18–80 years completed physical measurements and semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Body fat percentage (BF%) was estimated through validated Chinese-specific equations including age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), gender and their interaction.

Results: The prevalence of excessive body fat and central obesity in males were 44.2% and 31.3%, lower than that in females (60.7% and 36.1%, p < 0.05). 37.3% of lean or normal-weight individuals by BMI experienced excessive body fat given their BF% and 43.5% were central obesity according to WC. In females, egg consumption was associated with better body fat mass and its distribution. Compared with non-consumers, individuals consumed egg >50 g/d had a 34% lower risk of central obesity (OR:0.66, 0.39–0.99) and 38% lower risk of excessive body fat (OR:0.62, 0.37–1.00). There were significant dose-response relationships between egg consumption and overweight with excessive body fat/central obesity (p for linear trend <0.05). However, these associations were not significant in males.

Conclusion: Our findings underscore the necessity for future public health guidelines to assess body fat mass and distribution simultaneously in Chinese adults. Egg consumption might be beneficial for weight regulation, especially for overweight with excessive body fat/central obesity in females. Further research is warrant to establish the causal inference.