Affiliations

Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

1 Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
2 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
3 Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the association between the dietary diversity score (DDS) and anthropometric indices in a nationally representative sample of Iranian children and adolescents.

METHODS

The nationwide cross-sectional study included 5178 students aged 6–18 years. A validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used. The DDS was assessed by dividing food items into five groups.

RESULTS

An increase of 1 in the total DDS score was associated with 0.08 increase in the body mass index z-score (BMIz), 0.06 increase in waist circumference z-score (WCz), and 0.07 increase in hip circumference z-score (HCz) (P < 0.05) in girls. An increase of 1 in the DDS score of the dairy group was associated with an 0.11 increases in BMIz (P < 0.05). An increase of 1 in the DDS score of the fruit-vegetable group was associated with 0.09 and 0.08 increase in BMIz and HCz among girls respectively (P < 0.05). The odds of excess weight (overweight or obesity) and abdominal obesity increased with each unit increase in total DDS in girls (odds ratio, OR excess weight = 1.11 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.003–1.23), OR abdominal obesity = 1.11 (95% CI: 1.001–1.23)). The odds of excess weight increased with each unit increase in dairy DDS (OR excess weight = 1.20 (95% CI: 1.002–1.43) among boys.

CONCLUSION

Higher DDS was associated with higher anthropometric indices and greater risk of obesity among children and adolescents. Our findings emphasize the importance of increasing the diversity of healthy food items to reduce weight disorders in the pediatric age group. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry