ارتباط تنوع غذايي با چاقي و چاقي شكمي در ميان دانشجويان دختر اصفهاني

Association of dietary diversity score with obesity and central adiposity among female university students in Isfahan, Iran

Background and Objectives: Dietary diversity score (DDS) is a general index for assessing the whole dietary intake. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between dietary diversity score (DDS) on the one hand and obesity and central adiposity on the other hand in female students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Subject and methods: A random sample of 289 healthy female university students aged 18-28 years, representative of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences female students, participated in this cross-sectional study. A validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate the usual dietary pattern. DDS was calculated based on scoring 5 food groups. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured according to the standard protocols. The subjects were categorized based on quartile cut-points of dietary diversity score. Results: Means (±SD) of body mass index, waist circumference, and DDS were 25.9±5.1 kg/m2 and 85.5±14 cm, and 6.78±1.12, respectively. The probability of both obesity and central obesity decreased with quartiles of DDS (odds ratios among quartiles for obesity were 1.00, 0.39, 0.30, and 0.20 (P<0.04) and for central adiposity 1.00, 0.53, 0.35, and 0.20 (P<0.03). Subjects in the lowest DDS quartile had the highest risk for being overweight. Conclusion: There are inverse associations between DDS and obesity or central adiposity in Isfahani female university students. Further prospective investigations will be needed to confirm these findings