Dietary patterns and body fat distribution in older adults

Abstract

To examine whether dietary patterns are related to adipose tissue deposition in older adults, we used data from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study of well‐functioning adults aged 70 to 79 in 1998–99. Food intake was assessed with a modified Block food frequency questionnaire, and dietary patterns were derived by cluster analysis in 1,809 participants with complete data. Six dietary pattern clusters were identified: 1) Meat, snacks, fats and alcohol (n=480); 2) Sweets and desserts (n=257); 3) Refined grains (n=247); 4) Breakfast cereal (n=273); 5) Healthy foods (n=306); and 6) High‐fat dairy products (n=246). The ‘Healthy foods’ cluster was characterized by higher intake of lowfat dairy products, fruit, whole grains, poultry, fish and vegetables, and lower intake of red meat, sweets, added fats and high‐calorie drinks. Compared to the ‘Healthy foods’ cluster, the ‘Meat, snacks, fats and alcohol’ cluster had significantly greater abdominal visceral fat, and it and the ‘Breakfast cereal’ cluster had a significantly higher percent body fat, after controlling for age, gender, race, site, education, physical activity, smoking, calorie intake and PPAR‐γ2 Pro12Ala genotype. No differences were found in BMI or total lean body mass between the ‘Healthy foods’ cluster and other clusters. Results suggest a relationship between dietary patterns and body fat distribution in older adults. Supported by NIA/NIH.