Associations of dietary patterns with obesity and weight change for adults aged 18-65 years: Evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS).

Abstract

BackgroundObesity has become a significant public health problem within China. By observing dietary patterns, an individual's actual dietary habit of nutrients or foods in combination can be identified. We aimed to examine dietary patterns in relation to the risk of obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2) and weight change (average weight change per five years) within a Chinese cohort.MethodsWe analyzed the data from 6,677 adults aged 18-65 years in the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1997-2015. Westernized, traditional Chinese, and high-starch plant-based dietary patterns were identified by principal components analysis. We estimated relative risks (RRs) and least-squares means (LS-means) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the Cox proportional hazards models and the generalized linear models, respectively.ResultsHigh adherence to the Westernized dietary pattern was associated with increased risks of obesity and weight gain. Comparing top with bottom quintiles, RR (95% CI) for obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) was 1.57 (1.26-1.95; P for trend ConclusionsThe Westernized dietary pattern increased the risk of obesity among Chinese adults. Weight gain associated with Western dietary pattern was more pronounced in the Southern region than in the Northern region. Our study will provide helpful data in developing dietary guidelines for the prevention of obesity specific to different regions in China.