Some studies have suggested that eating patterns, which describe eating frequency, the temporal distribution of eating events across the day, breakfast skipping, and the frequency of eating meals away from home, may be related to obesity. Data from the Seasonal Variation of Blood Cholesterol Study (1994-1998) were used to evaluate the relation between eating patterns and obesity. Three 24-hour dietary recalls and a body weight measurement were collected at five equally spaced time points over a 1-year period from 499 participants. Data were averaged for five time periods, and a cross-sectional analysis was conducted. Odds ratios were adjusted for other obesity risk factors including age, sex, physical activity, and total energy intake. Results indicate that a greater number of eating episodes each day was associated with a lower risk of obesity (odds ratio for four or more eating episodes vs. three or fewer = 0.55, 95% confidence interval: 0.33, 0.91). In contrast, skipping breakfast was associated with increased prevalence of obesity (odds ratio = 4.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.57, 12.90), as was greater frequency of eating breakfast or dinner away from home. Further investigation of these associations in prospective studies is warranted.

Diet has been estimated to contribute to approximately 35% of all cancer incidence.'-4 Consistent evidence points to the protective role played by consumption of fruits and vegetables in a large number of epithelial cancers.57 In more than 200 case-control or cohort studies, persons consuming higher amounts of vegetables and fruits or having higher blood levels of carotenoid were less prone to develop various cancers.7 Recent evidence indicates that only 20% to 30% ofAmericans meet recommendations to consume 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day.8'4In response to this discrepancy, the National Cancer Institute launched its 5-aDay for Better Health campaign.15"6 This initiative included 9 research studies targeting both adults and children in a range of settings, one being the worksite. The present study reports the results of the Treatwell 5-aDay study, 1 of 3 worksite-based nutrition intervention studies included in the 5-a-Day for Better Health campaign. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of a worksite-based nutrition intervention involving families in promoting increased con- Worksites are an increasingly common channel for promoting healthy eating behavior change in large segments of the population.22 Nationally, the proportion of worksites offering nutrition education as part of health promotion programs increased from 17% in 198523 to 32% in 1992.24 However, very few randomized studies have reported the effectiveness of worksite-based nutrition education programs. A recent review reported that only 4 randomized studies assessing the effects of worksite nutrition education programs have been published since 1980, and in only 1 of these studies25 was the worksite the unit of analysis.26 Using the worksite as the unit of analysis is necessary in worksite-based interventions that take advantage of the worksite environment and structures, since individual behavior change is embedded in worksite-level changes.

Recent studies show that the frequency and amplitude of pulsatile LH secretion change during the normal human menstrual cycle; however, the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying these changes are poorly understood. To assess the role of progesterone (P) in regulating LH secretion patterns, we treated normal women (n = 5) with im P in oil during the follicular phase of their cycle and compared LH pulse frequency, amplitude, and mean plasma level during treatment to those in normal cycling women. Normal women were studied five times in five menstrual cycles. Each study lasted 24 h, with a sampling interval of 20 min. The cycle phases studied were early follicular (twice), late follicular (LF), midluteal, and LF with P therapy to simulate luteal phase plasma P levels. LH pulse frequency was slower (P less than or equal to 0.001) in the midluteal phase than in either the early follicular phase or LF, and furthermore, P, administered in the normal follicular phase, slowed LH pulse frequency, augmented pulse amplitude, and reduced mean plasma LH levels compared to those in untreated women studied at the same cycle phase (P less than or equal to 0.02). We infer that P secretion by the ovary mediates the change in the LH secretory pattern during the luteal phase of the normal menstrual cycle, and that at least part of this effect is mediated by the central nervous system.

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