(08-11-11) Association between major patterns of dietary intake and weight status in adolescents.

Cutler GJ, Flood A, Hannan PJ, Slavin JL, Neumark-Sztainer D.
Source
Medica Research Institute, 401 Carlson Parkway, Minnetonka, MN 55305, USA.
Abstract
The relationship between dietary intake and obesity is complex, and dietary
pattern analysis may offer new insight. We examined associations between
dietary patterns identified in a diverse cohort of adolescents and weight
status cross-sectionally and over a 5-year period. Project EAT (Eating Among
Teens) (Time 1) collected data on 4746 middle (younger cohort) and high school
(older cohort) students in 1998-9. EAT-II (Time 2) resurveyed 2516 of the
original cohort in 2003-4. All analyses were run separately by age cohort and
sex. The relationship between dietary patterns identified previously
(vegetable, fruit, vegetable & fruit, starchy food, sweet & salty snack food,
and fast food) and weight status was examined using logistic regression. All
analyses were adjusted for socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity and activity
level (longitudinal analyses were also adjusted for baseline weight status). In
cross-sectional analyses, higher adherence to dietary patterns loading heavily
on vegetables was associated with lower risk of overweight/obese weight status
in older and younger girls, whereas higher adherence to a 'sweet & salty snack
food' pattern was associated with lower risk in older and younger boys. These
associations were found prospectively in older boys and girls, but were no
longer significant in analyses adjusting for baseline weight status. We did not
find consistent or intuitive associations between dietary patterns and weight
status. Identified patterns may not capture the elements of diet that are truly
important in determining adolescent weight, or diet may not be the primary
driver in determining weight status at this age. Methodological difficulties in
assessing diet must also be taken into consideration.

Source: Br J Nutr. 2011 Oct 13:1-8. [Epub ahead of print]

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