The association between major dietary patterns and overweight or obesity among Iranian adolescent girls

Few studies have examined the association between dietary patterns and overweight or obesity among adolescents. The aim of present study was to determine the association between major dietary patterns and overweight or obesity in a sample of Iranian adolescent girls. A group of 400 high school girl students aged 14-17 living in Ahar, Iran, participated in this cross-sectional study. Semi-quantitative food frequency and general questionnaires were completed for all participants and their anthropometric characteristics were determined. Factor analysis was used to identify major dietary patterns. Odds ratios (ORs) for having overweight or obesity in relation to identified dietary patterns were estimated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Three major dietary patterns were identified. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants who had higher scores for the unhealthy (high consumption of mayonnaise, refined cereals, French fries, nonrefined cereals, high-fat dairy, organ meats, and red or processed meats) and the healthy (high consumption of vegetables, legumes, potatoes, fruit and fruit juices, liquid oils, olive, fish, low-fat dairy, and poultry) dietary patterns were more (OR=3.02, 95% CI: 1.81-5.03, P˂0.001) and less (OR=0.17, 95% CI: 0.09-0.29, P˂0.001) likely to have overweight or obesity, respectively, compared to participants with lower scores. The results of this study suggest that clear and specific dietary patterns can be identified among Iranian adolescent girls, which are related to risk of overweight or obesity. Keywords: Major dietary patterns, Overweight, Obesity, Adolescent girls, Factor analysis The association between major dietary patterns and overweight or obesity among Iranian adolescent girls B Aghapour, A Rashidi, AR Dorosti-Motlagh, Y Mehrabi Abstract: (4038 Views) Few studies have examined the association between dietary patterns and overweight or obesity among adolescents. The aim of present study was to determine the association between major dietary patterns and overweight or obesity in a sample of Iranian adolescent girls. A group of 400 high school girl students aged 14-17 living in Ahar, Iran, participated in this cross-sectional study. Semi-quantitative food frequency and general questionnaires were completed for all participants and their anthropometric characteristics were determined. Factor analysis was used to identify major dietary patterns. Odds ratios (ORs) for having overweight or obesity in relation to identified dietary patterns were estimated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Three major dietary patterns were identified. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants who had higher scores for the unhealthy (high consumption of mayonnaise, refined cereals, French fries, nonrefined cereals, high-fat dairy, organ meats, and red or processed meats) and the healthy (high consumption of vegetables, legumes, potatoes, fruit and fruit juices, liquid oils, olive, fish, low-fat dairy, and poultry) dietary patterns were more (OR=3.02, 95% CI: 1.81-5.03, P˂0.001) and less (OR=0.17, 95% CI: 0.09-0.29, P˂0.001) likely to have overweight or obesity, respectively, compared to participants with lower scores. The results of this study suggest that clear and specific dietary patterns can be identified among Iranian adolescent girls, which are related to risk of overweight or obesity.