Food intake patterns and body mass index in observational studies

Area of Science:

• Nutrition science
• Public health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Dietary patterns significantly influence health outcomes, including body weight.
• Understanding these patterns is crucial for developing effective public health strategies.
• Previous research has explored associations between food intake patterns and body mass index (BMI) or obesity (Ob).

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review studies examining food intake patterns and their relationship with BMI/Ob.
• To synthesize findings from studies using diet index, factor analysis, or cluster analysis to define dietary patterns.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review using MEDLINE database and reference cross-checking.
• Inclusion of 30 observational studies that assessed food intake patterns and anthropometric measures.
• Categorization of food intake patterns into energy-dense/unhealthy, healthy, or high-alcohol consumption.

Main Results:

• Identified dietary patterns generally fell into categories: unhealthy (fatty, sweet, energy-dense), healthy (vegetables, fruits, whole grains), or high alcohol intake.
• Associations between unhealthy dietary patterns and BMI/Ob were inconsistent, with some studies showing positive and others negative correlations.
• Diet index scores showed consistent negative associations with BMI/Ob, while factor and cluster analyses yielded less clear results.
• No significant associations were found in 11 studies; gender differences were noted, with weaker positive associations in women.

Conclusions:

• No consistent associations were identified between BMI/Ob and dietary patterns derived from diet index, factor, or cluster analyses.
• Heterogeneity in identified food intake patterns and methodological limitations hinder consistent analysis.
• Further research with standardized methods is needed to clarify the relationship between dietary patterns and obesity.