Abstract
Globally, the prevalence of childhood obesity has substantially increased at an alarming rate. This study investigated associations between dietary patterns and overweight/obesity in 3- to 6-year-old children. Recruited children were from four prefecture-level cities in Eastern China. Childhood overweight and obesity were defined according to WHO Child Growth Standards. Individual dietary patterns were assessed by a comprehensive self-administered FFQ using thirty-five food items. Using factor analysis two dietary patterns were derived: the traditional Chinese pattern was characterised by high consumption of cereals, vegetables and fresh juices while the modern pattern was characterised by high consumption of Western fast food, Chinese fast food, sweets/sugary foods and carbonated beverages. The associations of dietary patterns with overweight/obesity were evaluated by logistic regression models. Data of 8900 preschool children from thirty-five kindergartens recruited from March to June 2015 were used in the final analysis. Adherence to the modern dietary pattern was positively associated with children's age while adherence to the traditional dietary pattern was positively associated with maternal education; these associations were statistically significant. After adjustment, we found that being in the highest tertile of any identified dietary patterns was not significantly associated with overweight and obesity. Dietary patterns are not associated with overweight/obesity in Chinese preschool children. Prospective studies are needed to establish a causal link between dietary patterns and childhood obesity.
Highlights
The prevalence of childhood obesity has substantially increased at an alarming rate
A study conducted among Chinese children and adolescents indicated that the modern dietary pattern was associated with an increased risk of obesity[8]
Two dietary patterns were derived from thirty-five food groups in the FFQ using principal component analysis: modern and traditional
Summary
The prevalence of childhood obesity has substantially increased at an alarming rate. This study investigated associations between dietary patterns and overweight/obesity in 3- to 6-year-old children. Dietary patterns are not associated with overweight/obesity in Chinese preschool children. Childhood overweight and obesity have become a major public health concern worldwide, as their prevalence has substantially increased at an alarming rate[3]. The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 4·2 % in 1990 to 6·7 % in 2010 among preschool children[4]. The prevalence of obesity among Chinese preschool children was estimated to be 10·1 % in 2014(5). A study conducted among Chinese children and adolescents indicated that the modern dietary pattern (milk, eggs and fast food) was associated with an increased risk of obesity[8]. Dietary pattern analysis is population specific that may be influenced by socio-cultural factors and food availability[17]
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