Dietary pattern is associated with obesity in Chinese children and adolescents: data from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS)

Abstract

BackgroundAssociations of dietary patterns in Chinese adolescents and children with later obesity have not previously been investigated. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the associations between dietary patterns and the risk of obesity in Chinese adolescents and children by using a longitudinal design.MethodsData from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), a nationally representative survey, were used for our analysis. 489 participants 6–14 years of age were followed from 2006 to 2011. Factor analysis was used to identify the dietary patterns in Chinese adolescents and children. Ordered logistic regression models were used to examine the association between dietary patterns and later obesity.ResultsTwo dietary patterns were revealed by factor analysis, the traditional Chinese dietary pattern (with high intake of rice, vegetables, poultry, pork and fish and the modern dietary pattern (with high intake of wheat, processed meat and fast food). Children in the highest quartile and the second-highest quartile of the traditional Chinese dietary pattern was inversely associated with later obesity compared with children in the lowest quartile over 5 years (OR = 0.19, 95%CI: 0.09, 0.40 for Q4; OR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.33, 0.67 for Q3); Children in the highest quartile of the modern dietary pattern was positively associated with later obesity compared with children in the lowest quartile over 5 years (OR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.17, 3.48).ConclusionsDietary patterns in Chinese adolescents and children are associated with later obesity. These findings further confirm the importance of children’s dietary patterns in later obesity and lay groundwork for dietary culture-specific interventions targeted at reducing rates of obesity in children and adolescents.

Brief introduction of medical database and data mining technology in big data era

“…The survey used multistage stratified cluster random sampling to collect data from 15 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China's eastern, central, and western regions 50,51 . As of August 2018, a total of 220 community samples, 7200 family samples and 30 000 resident samples were included.…”

“…ties in China's eastern, central, and western regions 50,51. As of August 2018, a total of 220 community samples, 7200 family samples and30 000 resident samples were included.…”

Double Burden of Malnutrition: Examining the Growth Profile and Coexistence of Undernutrition, Overweight, and Obesity among School-Aged Children and Adolescents in Urban and Rural Counties in Henan Province, China

“…A cross-sectional study with the annual China National Nutrition and Health Survey (CHNS) [5,6,25,26] was conducted in Henan Province from September 2010 to January 2014 using a multistage stratified population-based cluster random sampling technique.…”

“…e survey instrument used the nationally representative China National Nutrition and Health Survey [5,6,25,26], which includes a household survey, an adult survey, a child survey, and a nutrition survey. Household sociodemographic characteristics, including age, gender, education levels, and annual family income, were collected in the household survey.…”

“…One of the most recent national studies reported that, in China, 42% of adults and about one-fifth of all children are overweight or obese [4]. Although changes to dietary patterns and rising obesity in Chinese adolescents and children have been reported in the nationally representative China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) [5,6], malnutrition remains a threat that may hold back a generation of Chinese in certain geographic areas [7]. For instance, while China's dynamic urban population thrives, much of rural China is mired in poverty [8].…”