Major Dietary Patterns in Iranian Adolescents: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program, Iran



Kafeshani O¹ ; Sarrafzadegan N² ; Nouri F³ ; Mohammadifard N²
Source: ARYA Atherosclerosis Published:2015

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Limited information exists from the dietary pattern of children and adolescents particularly in developing countries. We aimed to detect major dietary patterns and their association with socio-demographic characteristics of Iranian adolescents. METHODS: Healthy Heart Promotion from Childhood as one of the “Isfahan Healthy Heart Program” projects was conducted in adolescents aged 11-18 years in Isfahan, Najafabad, and Arak, Iran, districts, selected randomly by multistage sampling. This survey was conducted on 1997 adolescents in 2007. Dietary intake was assessed annually using a 50-item food frequency questionnaire in both communities. RESULTS: Four major dietary patterns labeled “prudent diet,” fast food diet,” “animal fat diet,” and “Mediterranean diet” were identified. We found a significant inverse relationship between prudent and animal fat dietary patterns with age and fast food and animal fat dietary patterns with being a boy. However, a positive relationship between fast food dietary pattern and age; prudent and Mediterranean dietary patterns with being boy were detected (all P < 0.050). While urbanization and TV watching correlated positively with the fast food diet, an inverse relationship between urbanization and other dietary patterns were found (all P < 0.050). The animal fat and fast food dietary patterns inversely associated with nutrition knowledge; however, healthy diet had a positive relationship with it (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study suggests that socio-demographic characteristics and physical activity are related to dietary patterns in Iranian adolescents. © 2015, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All right reserved.