Abstract

Background and Objectives: Evidence regarding macronutrients and body composition remains limited. This study examined the relationship in Chinese college students. Methods and Study Design: 498 Beijing college students aged 18–31 years were included. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance. Linear and logistic regression analyses examined correlations between macronutrients intake and body composition. Results: Obesity-related indicators including waist and hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, body mass index, body fat mass, fat mass index and body fat percentage, and muscle-related indicators including soft lean mass, fat free mass, fat-free mass index, skeletal muscle mass, skeletal muscle index were negatively correlated with the proportion of protein intake (p <0.05), and were positively correlated with the proportion of fat intake (p <0.05). All body composition parameters, except waist-hip ratio, were negatively correlated with the proportion of carbohydrate intake (p <0.05). The risk of thinness increased progressively with higher proportion of protein intake (OR: 4.48, 4.57, 7.43; p <0.05). However, higher proportion of protein intake was associated with a reduced risk of overweight (OR :0.41, 0.39; p <0.05) and obesity (OR = 0.09, p = 0.007). Increased risk of overweight (OR = 2.29, p = 0.044) and obesity (OR = 4.42, p = 0.030) were observed in the fourth quartile group of fat intake proportion compared to the first. Conclusions: Further studies are warranted to clarify the relationship between body muscle and fat distribution and macronutrients intake composition.

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