Associations between Dietary Diversity Scores and Obesity Phenotypes in Women

Dietary diversity is a proxy measurement of overall dietary quality. The aim of this study was to assess relationships between dietary diversity score and obesity phenotypes in women, Tehran, Iran.

In this cross-sectional study, 197 women aged ≥ 25 years from Municipal District 7 of Tehran were participated. Food intakes were calculated using semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires. Dietary diversity score was calculated using healthy food diversity score. Anthropometric parameters and physical activities were measured based on the standard methods. Multivariate logistic regression was used to show possible associations between the dietary diversity scores and the obesity phenotypes.

The mean (±standard deviation) age of the participants was 37.0 y ±7.41. The mean weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio were 78.3 kg ±1.2, 27.1 kg/m2 ±34, 92.5 cm ±14.4, 0.87 ±23.4 and 0.57 ±6.97; respectively. The mean (±SD) of dietary diversity score was 0.27 ±16.73. No relationships were seen between the dietary diversity scores and general obesity, high waist-to-hip ratios and waist-to-height ratios. However, risks of high waist circumferences decreased with increasing dietary diversity score ]OR(CI):  0.26 (0.09–0.75); p-trend = 0.04[.

In conclusion, inverse relationships were seen between the abdominal obesity and the dietary diversity scores in women in Tehran. Therefore, more various diets are recommended for the prevention of obesity in women.