Investigating the relationship between nutrient intake patterns and obesity indices among Jordanians

While the nutrient patterns among populations and their major components have been studied, their links to obesity and chronic diseases have not. This study is unique in its focus on detecting the nutrient intake patterns among Jordanians and determining their relationships with obesity indices.

A substantial dataset of 1647 participants was extracted from a survey on household food consumption patterns (for individuals aged 8 or older). Age groups were classified into children, adolescents, and adults. Food intake was analyzed, and nutrient patterns were determined. Anthropometric measurements were assessed, and obesity indices (BMI, BRI, WWI, ABSI, and WHtR) were calculated.

three major nutrient patterns were extracted (PCA1: Energy and types of fat nutrient pattern, PCA2: Low fiber and plant sources nutrient pattern, and PCA3: riboflavin, niacin, potassium, and magnesium nutrient pattern). Among adolescent girls, a one standard deviation (SD) increase in PCA1 was associated with a significant decrease of 1.2 kg/m² in BMI, 3.89 cm in WC, 0.03 in WHtR, 0.37 in WWI, 0.04 in CI, 0.49 in BRI, and 0.61 in ABSI. However, an increase in PCA2 was associated with significant increases in WC by 2.19 cm, WHtR by 0.01, WWI by 0.17, CI by 0.02, BRI by 0.25, and ABSI by 0.35; the same significant findings were observed in female adults for both patterns.

Among adolescent girls and adult women, but not in males, the "Energy and types of fat" nutrient pattern was inversely associated with obesity indices, whereas the "Low fiber and plant sources" nutrient pattern was positively associated with adiposity measures. This indicates a sex-specific, heterogeneous relationship between nutrient intake patterns and obesity-related indices across population subgroups.