High-energy, low-vegetable diet predicts high BMI z-scores in 10-year-olds

A dietary pattern rich in processed and energy-dense foods and with lower vegetable soup intake among kids aged 7 years is significantly associated with increased body mass index (BMI) z-scores at age 10 years, according to a study. Other dietary patterns do not predict BMI z-scores.

This study included 4,698 children from the birth cohort Generation XXI at ages 7 and 10 years. The authors then assessed diet using a validated food-frequency questionnaire and calculated measured BMI z-scores. Dietary patterns were derived by performing principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS).

The component scores of PCA successfully explained 13.0 percent of food groups and only 0.2 percent of BMI z-scores, whereas PLS scores elucidated the variance of both food groups (10.1 percent) and BMI z-scores (4.2 percent) at age 10 years.

Two dietary patterns were derived by using PLS, but only one (dietary pattern high in processed meats and energy-dense foods and with lower vegetable soup consumption) significantly correlated with an increased BMI z-scores in children aged 10 years (adjusted β̂, 0.032, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.017–0.047). Notably, it was more likely followed by children from younger and less educated mothers and those who were born heavier.

“The usual definition of dietary patterns only accounts for the explanation of dietary choices and not a specific health outcome,” the authors said. “This could partially explain the lack of consistent associations between diet and related diseases.”