Abstract
BackgroundFood intake is a complex behaviour which can be assessed using dietary patterns. Our aim was to characterize dietary patterns and associated factors in French-speaking Switzerland.MethodsCross-sectional study conducted between 2009 and 2012 in the city of Lausanne, Switzerland, including 4372 participants (54% women, 57.3 ± 10.3 years). Food consumption was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were assessed by principal components analysis.ResultsThree patterns were identified: “Meat & fries”; “Fruits & Vegetables” and “Fatty & sugary”. The “Meat & fries” pattern showed the strongest correlations with total and animal protein and cholesterol carbohydrates, dietary fibre and calcium. The “Fruits & Vegetables” pattern showed the strongest correlations with dietary fibre, carotene and vitamin D. The “Fatty & sugary” pattern showed the strongest correlations with total energy and saturated fat. On multivariate analysis, male gender, low educational level and sedentary status were positively associated with the “Meat & fries” and the “Fatty & sugary” patterns, and negatively associated with the “Fruits & Vegetables” pattern. Increasing age was inversely associated with the “Meat & fries” pattern; smoking status was inversely associated with the “Fruits & Vegetables” pattern. Being born in Portugal or Spain was positively associated with the “Meat & fries” and the “Fruits & Vegetables” patterns. Increasing body mass index was positively associated with the “Meat & fries” pattern and inversely associated with the “Fatty & sugary” pattern.ConclusionsThree dietary patterns, one healthy and two unhealthy, were identified in the Swiss population. Several associated modifiable behaviours were identified; the information on socio- demographic determinants allows targeting of the most vulnerable groups in the context of public health interventions.
Highlights
Food intake is a complex behaviour which can be assessed using dietary patterns
Several individual, lifestyle and socio-demographic factors associated with dietary patterns have been identified: age and education are positively associated with a healthy dietary pattern [7, 8], while male gender is usually associated with more unhealthy patterns [7]
Increasing age was inversely associated with the “Meat & fries” pattern
Summary
Food intake is a complex behaviour which can be assessed using dietary patterns. Dietary intake is a complex behaviour, which cannot be reduced to the consumption of single types of foods or nutrients [2, 3]. Several individual, lifestyle and socio-demographic factors associated with dietary patterns have been identified: age and education are positively associated with a healthy dietary pattern (mainly characterized by a high intake of fruits, vegetables or fish) [7, 8], while male gender is usually associated with more unhealthy patterns (characterized by high intake of fat, red meat or convenience foods) [7]. Identification of groups with the (un) healthier dietary patterns would allow better public health policies regarding diet [9]
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