Association Between Alignment With the My Meal Plate Guidelines and Cardiometabolic Diseases in Taiwan

My Meal Plate, implemented in Taiwan since 2018, uses simple visual representations to promote healthy dietary practices. In recent years, the prevalence of nutrition-related cardiometabolic diseases has increased globally and in Taiwan, posing substantial public health and healthcare burdens. However, research examining the association between My Meal Plate alignment and cardiometabolic diseases remains limited. This study used data from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan to assess the relationship between My Meal Plate alignment and cardiometabolic diseases, providing evidence to inform future health policy planning. In the overall population, each 5-point increase in the My Meal Plate score was associated with a 5% reduction in the risk of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91-0.99) and diabetes (OR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.90-1.00). These associations were more pronounced in adults aged ≥ 65 years, with those in Q4 showing a further reduced risk of metabolic syndrome (OR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.48-0.98) and diabetes (OR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.44-0.89) and a stronger association between each 5-point score increase and a reduced risk of both metabolic syndrome and diabetes (each OR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86-0.98). Overall, the findings suggest that greater alignment with My Meal Plate principles was associated with a lower risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome, particularly among older adults.