The Relationships between a Dietary Pattern Linked to Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Life Satisfaction in Early Adolescence

Abstract

Little is known about the contribution of dietary patterns of poor quality on life satisfaction among Malaysian children. We evaluated associations between an empirically derived ”high sugar, high fibre, high dietary energy dense (DED) and low fat” dietary pattern and life satisfaction score in adolescents. A total of 548 adolescents aged 13 years were recruited from randomly selected public schools located in three southern states of Peninsular Malaysia. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) while life satisfaction was measured using a Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS). Z-score for a ”high sugar, high fibre, high DED and low fat” dietary pattern was estimated by applying reduced rank regression analysis. Relationships between the dietary pattern and life satisfaction scores were assessed using regression models. Mean and SD of life satisfaction score was higher in girls (70.5 (12.8)) compared to boys (67.6 (15.4)), p < 0.05. The overall life satisfaction score (β = −0.119; 95% CI: −0.125, −0.004) was inversely associated with dietary pattern z-score as well as scores for self (β = −0.13; 95% CI: −0.170, −0.015) and living environment (β = −0.12; 95% CI: −0.163, −0.007) domains in girls. An opposite trend was observed for school domain in boys whereby an increasing dietary pattern score was positively associated with increasing life satisfaction score (β = 0.216; 95% CI: 0.054, 0.36). The finding of this study highlights the role of free sugar and DED particularly, within the framework of whole diet, and target population at risk to improve life satisfaction among adolescents.

Dietary intake, obesity, and metabolic risk factors among children and adolescents in the SEACO-CH20 cross-sectional study

“…Although this study did not analyze food consumption patterns, there are indications that the participants, particularly the adolescents, may be inclined towards unhealthy dietary habits. Recent local studies have highlighted poor dietary practices and patterns among Malaysian children and adolescents, which have been linked to a poor quality of life [51][52][53] . Moreover, unhealthy dietary habits established at a young age are associated with an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases and poor quality of life [52][53][54][55][56] .…”

“…Recent local studies have highlighted poor dietary practices and patterns among Malaysian children and adolescents, which have been linked to a poor quality of life [51][52][53] . Moreover, unhealthy dietary habits established at a young age are associated with an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases and poor quality of life [52][53][54][55][56] . These age-, sex-and ethnic-specific variations in our SEACO-CH20 study highlight the importance of tailoring nutritional interventions to address the unique dietary preferences and cultural contexts of different ethnic communities.…”

PUTRA-Adol study: protocol for an observational follow-up study to assess the tracking of dietary patterns linked to cardiometabolic risk factors and its prospective relationship with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, carotid intima-medial thickness and mental well-being during adolescence in Malaysia

“…Apart from that, we also found that the identified 'high sugar, high fibre, high energy dense and low fat' DP was positively associated with poorer life satisfaction scores in these adolescents. 19 It was found that the increasing trend of cardiometabolic risk factors is parallel to the mental health problems among Malaysian young people over the last decade. [20][21][22] As such, it may be possible that the determinants of cardiometabolic risk factors, especially the dietary predictors, may also influence the state of mental health in adolescents.…”