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European Journal of Nutrition
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition 1/2019

Open Access 01-02-2019 | Original Contribution

A traditional dietary pattern is associated with lower odds of overweight and obesity among preschool children in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study

Authors: Lara Nasreddine, Hiba Shatila, Leila Itani, Nahla Hwalla, Lamis Jomaa, Farah Naja

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

The high burden of preschool overweight in the Middle East and North Africa highlights the need for rigorous investigations of its determinants. This study aims at identifying dietary patterns amongst preschoolers in Lebanon and assessing their association with overweight and obesity.

Methods

A national cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst 2–5-year-old children (n = 525). Socio-demographic, dietary, lifestyle and anthropometric variables were collected. Dietary patterns were derived by factor analysis. Overweight/obesity was defined based on the World Health Organization 2006 criteria (BMI-for-age z-score > + 2).

Results

Two patterns, “Fast Food and Sweets” and “Traditional Lebanese”, were identified. The “Fast Food and Sweets” pattern was characterized by higher consumption of sweetened beverages, fast foods, salty snacks and sweets. The “Traditional Lebanese” was driven by higher intakes of cereals, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. Children belonging to the 3rd tertile of the Traditional pattern scores had significantly lower odds of overweight/obesity compared to the 1st tertile (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.11, 0.97). Higher maternal education and higher frequency of eating with family predicted adherence to the traditional pattern, while the presence of a household helper was a negative determinant. Adherence to the Fast Food and Sweets pattern was positively associated with the child’s age, and negatively associated with female gender and maternal education.

Conclusions

The “Traditional Lebanese” pattern was associated with decreased risk of preschool overweight. Policies aiming at re-anchoring this traditional dietary pattern in contemporary lifestyles may be developed as potential preventive strategies against overweight in this age group.
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Metadata
Title
A traditional dietary pattern is associated with lower odds of overweight and obesity among preschool children in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study
Authors
Lara Nasreddine
Hiba Shatila
Leila Itani
Nahla Hwalla
Lamis Jomaa
Farah Naja
Publication date
01-02-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1574-0

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