Exploring the Applicability of General Dietary Recommendations for People Affected by Obesity

(1) Obesity has emerged as a major public health challenge with increasing prevalence globally. The General Dietary Behavior Inventory (GDBI) was developed based on official dietary recommendations. However, little is known about whether general dietary recommendations also apply to people affected by obesity and whether the GDBI can be used appropriately. (2) A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 458 people meeting the inclusion criteria participated in the study. The assessment consisted of the GDBI and behavioral, dietary, and health-related variables. We used descriptive analysis to examine the item characteristics of the GDBI and inferential statistics to investigate the associations between the GDBI score and behavioral, dietary, and health-related outcomes. (3) Several items of the GDBI were concerned by ceiling effects. A higher GDBI score (indicating a higher adherence to dietary recommendations) was related to higher age, higher nutrition knowledge, more restrained eating behavior, lower impulsivity, and higher body mass index. There were no associations between the GDBI score and reported physical and mental health or quality of life. (4) The GDBI showed inconsistent relationships with the study outcomes. General dietary recommendations do not appear to be applicable to people with obesity. Hence, there is an urgent need for specific recommendations and subsequent assessments of behavioral adherence for people affected by obesity.