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Food patterns measured by factor analysis and anthropometric changes in adults
P K Newby1, Denis Muller, Judith Hallfrisch
1Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, 711 Washington Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02111, USA. pknewby@post.harvard.edu
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|July 28, 2004
Summary
A healthy dietary pattern rich in reduced-fat dairy and fiber foods is linked to smaller increases in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. This finding is particularly notable for women regarding BMI and for both sexes concerning waist circumference.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Obesity Research
- Dietary Pattern Analysis
Background:
- Overweight and obesity affect a significant portion of US adults, with dietary factors contributing to weight gain remaining a subject of debate.
- Understanding the specific dietary components that influence weight gain is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between food patterns identified through factor analysis and changes in anthropometric measures.
- To determine if a derived healthy food pattern predicts reduced changes in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 7-day dietary records from 459 healthy participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.
- Developed 40 food groups and applied exploratory factor analysis to identify distinct dietary patterns.
- Employed multivariate regression models to assess the association between food patterns and annual changes in BMI and waist circumference, adjusted for baseline measures.
Main Results:
- Six food patterns were identified, with Factor 1 characterized by reduced-fat dairy products, fruit, and fiber.
- Factor 1 showed a significant inverse association with annual changes in BMI in women (P < 0.05) and waist circumference in both sexes (P < 0.05).
- Higher adherence to Factor 1 predicted smaller increases in BMI and waist circumference.
Conclusions:
- A dietary pattern emphasizing reduced-fat dairy and high-fiber foods may contribute to mitigating weight gain.
- This pattern appears effective in promoting smaller gains in BMI for women and waist circumference for both men and women.
- Findings support the role of specific dietary patterns in managing anthropometric changes and potentially preventing obesity-related health issues.