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Dietary energy density [kcal/g (kJ/g)] influences energy intake under controlled laboratory conditions. Little is known about the energy density of the diets of free-living persons. Because energy density investigations are a relatively new endeavor, there are neither standard calculation methods nor published nationally representative values. This paper examines the calculation of energy density based on systematic exclusion of beverage categories, presents data on variability, and compares values by sex, age, and race/ethnicity in a representative sample of U.S. adults. Mean daily dietary energy density values for adults (aged > 19 y) were calculated using two 24-h recalls from the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals 1994-1996 based on food, food and liquid meal replacements, food and alcohol, food and juice, food and milk, food and juice and milk, food and energy-containing beverages, and food and all beverages. Energy density varied by calculation method, ranging from 0.94 to 1.85 kcal/g (3.93-7.74 kJ/g). Intraindividual-to-interindividual CV ratios were highest for the food and energy-containing beverages calculation. Men reported diets with a higher energy density than women for all calculation methods (P < 0.0001). There were differences by race/ethnicity and an inverse linear trend for age. These data indicate that beverage inclusion schemes should be clearly defined when reporting energy density values. In epidemiologic studies, calculations based on food and all beverages and food and energy-containing beverages may diminish associations with outcome variables. These nationally representative data, which provide an important frame of reference for other studies, indicate that dietary energy density differs by sex, age, and race/ethnicity. KEY WORDS: * energy density * intraindividual variation * methodology * diet

We used nationally representative data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) to examine the relationship between low iron stores (serum ferritin < 12 [micro]g/L) and dietary patterns that might affect iron status among Mexican American (MA) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) girls and women of reproductive age (12-39 y). Dietary data from the qualitative food-frequency questionnaire were used to classify subjects into three categories (using the 25th and 75th quartile values for NHW) for intake of heme iron, nonheme iron, iron absorption enhancers, and iron absorption inhibitors. The prevalence of low iron stores was 17.4% among MA (n = 1368) and 7.9% among NHW (n = 1473). Compared with high intake, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for low iron stores was 1.80 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.24-2.62] for medium intake of heme iron and 0.48 (95% CI, 0.25-0.91) for low intake of nonheme iron (plus iron supplement). Compared with no use, use of vitamin C supplements was associated with half the risk of low iron stores (OR = 0.50; 95% CI, 0.29-0.87). Similar results were found after income and parity were controlled for, except that the protective effect of vitamin C supplements was no longer significant. Even after adjustment for sociodemographic and dietary factors, MA women remained at increased risk for low iron stores (OR = 1.80; 95% CI, 1.30-2.49) indicating that the reasons for the higher prevalence of iron deficiency in MA women warrants further investigation. J. Nutr. 132: 996-1001, 2002. KEY WORDS: * iron deficiency * dietary supplements * anemia * diet assessment * women

National surveys conducted since 1982 were used to assess maternal and child obesity in Latin American and Caribbean countries and in U.S. residents of Mexican descent. Obesity in women, a body mass index (BMI) [greater than or equal to]30 kg/[m.sup.2], was 3% in Haiti, 8-10% in eight Latin American countries and 29% in Mexican Americans. Median BMI for Latin American women were near or above the 50th percentile of the general U.S. population; values exceeded the 75th percentile in the case of Mexican Americans. The prevalence of overweight (>1 SD above mean weight-for-height) in children 1-5 y of age ranged from 6% in Haiti to 24% in Peru among 13 countries. Overweight occurred in 24% of Mexican-American children. Prevalences of overweight in children and of obesity in women were greater in urban areas and in households of higher socioeconomic status. Overweight in children increased with higher maternal education; however, in some countries, obesity in women decreased with higher education. No general pattern of change over time was observed in eight countries in overweight in children. Obesity in women increased in the three countries with such data and in Mexican-American women and children. There was a tendency for greater national incomes to be associated with greater obesity levels in women and with lower levels of stunting in children. Levels of obesity in the region indicate a public health concern, particularly among women, considering that studies have identified mortality and morbidity risks associated with obesity in adults. KEY WORDS: overweight obesity Latin America and Caribbean Mexican Americans