An analysis of dietary patterns and body composition parameters in the Polish population

Background: Lifestyle factors are the key determinants of health. Diet exerts the great influence on the weight to height ratio and the body fat percentage. In addition to total energy intake, the type and quality of the diet can also play a role in the etiology of obesity in susceptible individuals.

Objective: Aim of this study was to identify the dietary patterns of the Polish population and to determine the associations between these characteristics and body composition parameters. This study presents the clustering of dietary models and body composition to determine the association of these dietary patterns with BMI, physique rating (body type) or visceral fat.

Material and methods: The sample consisted of 402 respondents aged 18 to 65. Nutrition models were identified with cluster analysis. Logistic regression modelling with adjustment for confounders was applied. Three dietary-lifestyle patterns were identified.

Results: Individuals belonging to the processed food model were at significantly higher risk of overweight and obesity expressed by BMI scores (OR=1.55; 95%CI: 1.26-1.89). The average BMI score was 28.19 ± 3.45 kg/m2 in the processed food model, 23.78 ±2.21 kg/m2 in the control group, and 22.17 ± 2.69 kg/m2 in the healthy nutrition model. Respondents belonging to the processed food model were also characterized by considerably higher body fat percentage (OR=1.89, 95%CI: 1.37-2.34) and higher visceral fat levels (OR=2.12; 95%CI: 1.42-2.34). Frequent intake (at least several times a week) of sweetened carbonated or non-carbonated beverages (p=0.002) and instant foods (p=0.006) were the main factors associated with the risk of higher body fat percentage and higher visceral fat levels.

Conclusions: Dietary patterns have been proposed as a solution to investigating the association between food choice and body composition, and such studies focus on analyses of the entire diet, rather than on the intake of individual nutrients or food groups.