An Obesity Dietary Quality Index Predicts Abdominal Obesity in Women : Potential Opportunity for New Prevention and Treatment Paradigms

Abstract EN

Background.

Links between dietary quality and abdominal obesity are poorly understood.

Objective.

To examine the association between an obesity-specific dietary quality index and abdominal obesity risk in women.

Methods.

Over 12 years, we followed 288 Framingham Offspring/Spouse Study women, aged 30–69 years, without metabolic syndrome risk factors, cardiovascular disease, cancer, or diabetes at baseline.

An 11-nutrient obesity-specific dietary quality index was derived using mean ranks of nutrient intakes from 3-day dietary records.

Abdominal obesity (waist circumference >88 cm) was assessed during follow-up.

Results.

Using multiple logistic regression, women with poorer dietary quality were more likely to develop abdominal obesity compared to those with higher dietary quality (OR 1.87; 95% CI, 1.01, 3.47; P for trend =.048) independent of age, physical activity, smoking, and menopausal status.

Conclusions.

An obesity-specific dietary quality index predicted abdominal obesity in women, suggesting targets for dietary quality assessment, intervention, and treatment to address abdominal adiposity.