Energy density, diet quality, and central body fat in a nationwide survey of young Spaniards

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 2013-11, Vol.29 (11-12), p.1350-1355
• Main Authors: Schröder, Helmut, Ph.D, Mendez, Michelle A., Ph.D, Gomez, Santiago F., M.P.H, Fíto, Montserrat, M.D., Ph.D, Ribas, Lourdes, M.D, Aranceta, Javier, M.D., Ph.D, Serra-Majem, Lluis, M.D., Ph.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adipose Tissue; Adiposity; Adolescent; Age; Biological and medical sciences; Body fat; Body Height; Child; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Confidence intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Diet quality; Diet, Mediterranean; eating habits; Energy density; Energy Intake; Feeding Behavior; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Food; Food Quality; Fruit; fruits; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Humans; Linear Models; Logistic Models; Male; Mediterranean diet; Motor Activity; Nutrition Assessment; Nutrition research; Nutrition Surveys; nutritional adequacy; Obesity; Odds Ratio; pastries; Population; Principal components analysis; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; risk; sausages; Spain; Studies; surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Variables; Vegetables; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Waist Circumference; Waist circumferences; Waist-to-height ratio; Weight control; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2013.05.019

Abstract Objectives To determine the impact of energy density on diet quality and anthropometric proxy measures for central body fat in young Spaniards. Methods Data were obtained from a representative national sample of 2513 young Spaniards aged 10 to 24 y. Dietary assessment was performed with a 24-h recall. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured by the KIDMED index. Reduced rank regression analysis was used to identify energy-density dietary patterns. Waist circumferences and height were measured. Results Pastries and sausages showed the strongest loading for the dietary energy density factor score (DED-FS), with fruits and vegetables at the opposite end of the scale. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a positive association ( P < 0.01) of dietary energy density (DED) and the DED-FS with waist circumferences regressed on height and age (WCheight+age ) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). The adjusted odds ratio for elevated WCheight+age and WHtR increased across quartile distribution of DED ( P < 0.001) and DED-FS ( P < 0.05). Diet quality characterized by the KIDMED index was negatively associated ( P < 0.001) with DED and the DED-FS. Conclusions Higher DED is a risk for increased central fat distribution and is associated with low adherence to the Mediterranean diet.