Dietary patterns, gender, and weight status among middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan: a cross-sectional study

Miriam Adoyo Muga,Hsiao-Hsien Rau,Chien-Yeh Hsu,Jane C-J Chao,Patrick Opiyo Owili

doi:10.1186/s12877-017-0664-4

Abstract

BackgroundDiet has been associated with differences in weight and nutritional status of an individual. The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased among adults in Taiwan. Hence, we examined the relationship between dietary patterns and weight status by gender among middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan.MethodsThe cross-sectional data of 62,965 participants aged ≥40 years were retrieved from the Mei Jau health screening institutions’ database collected from 2001 and 2010. Diet information was evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire, while the dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis before summing up and dividing into quintiles of consumption. The association between dietary patterns and weight status among adult men and women was explored using multinomial logistic regression models. Three models were analyzed before stratifying data by gender.ResultsTwo dietary patterns were derived with one reflecting a high consumption of vegetables and fruits (vegetable-fruit dietary pattern) and the other a high consumption of meat and processed foods (meat-processed dietary pattern). After adjustment, highest consumption of vegetables and fruits (Q5) reduced the likelihood of being overweight (OR = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85–0.97) or obese (OR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78–0.92), while highest consumption of meat and processed foods increased the likelihood of being overweight (OR = 1.50; 95% CI, 1.40–1.59) or obese (OR = 1.94; 95% CI, 1.79–2.10). Women were less likely to be overweight or obese with the highest intake of fruits and vegetables (Q5) while both genders were more likely to be overweight or obese with high consumption of meat and processed foods.ConclusionsHigh intake of vegetables and fruits is associated with lower odds of being overweight or obese, especially among women. But, high intake of meat and processed foods is associated with higher odds of overweight and obesity in both genders.

Highlights

Diet has been associated with differences in weight and nutritional status of an individual
In order to extend the finding on obesity among Taiwanese adults [1], we explored whether the correlation between dietary patterns and weight status differed by gender
Dietary patterns Two uncorrelated dietary patterns were derived from the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) using principal component analysis (PCA) with orthogonal varimax rotation and retention of two factors [26, 27], and defined as vegetablefruit (9 foods or food groups) and meat-processed (12 foods or food groups) dietary patterns to reflect dietary consumption with high intake in vegetables and fruits or meats and processed foods, respectively (Additional file 1: Table S1)

Summary

Introduction

Diet has been associated with differences in weight and nutritional status of an individual. Some authors found that a diet rich in vegetables lowers the risk of obesity [9], while others found that vegetable-rich diet is positively associated with obesity [11, 17]; and yet, others found a no association [13, 16]. These studies were performed in different Asian countries. The previous cross-sectional study in Taiwan revealed that the vegetarians aged from 20 to 98 years had a lower risk of obesity compared with the matched non-vegetarians [18]

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Conclusion