Associations between lifestyle patterns and body mass index in a sample of Greek children and adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Although eating and physical activity behaviors have been previously individually investigated with regard to overweight in children, multidimensional lifestyle patterns, based on these behaviors, have not been explored.


OBJECTIVE
To assess lifestyle patterns in relation to body mass index (BMI), in a nationally representative sample of the Greek pediatric population


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Data were collected from May through July 2007.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 1,305 children and adolescents (ages 3 to 18 years).


METHODS
Information on participants' dietary intake, eating behaviors, physical activity habits, and BMI were collected. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet guidelines was evaluated using the KIDMED Mediterranean diet quality index; the higher the score in this index the more favorable the dietary pattern. The Goldberg cut-off limits for the ratio of energy intake/basal metabolic rate were used to evaluate dietary low energy reporting and participants were accordingly classified as low-energy reporters.


METHODS
Principal component analysis was performed to identify participants' lifestyle patterns. Associations between BMI and lifestyle patterns were further evaluated using multiple linear regression analyses, after controlling for potential confounders.


RESULTS
Principal component analysis identified seven lifestyle patterns explaining 85% of the total variance of lifestyle habits. A lifestyle pattern characterized by higher eating frequency, breakfast consumption and higher KIDMED score was negatively associated with BMI (standardized beta=-.125, P<0.001), after controlling for age, sex, and parental education. The association remained significant even when low-energy reporters were excluded from the analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from the study suggest a potential intercorrelation and protective action of selected eating behaviors, namely eating frequency, breakfast consumption, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, against overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.
Kontogianni
Meropi D
MD
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Farmaki
Anastasia-Eleni
AE
Vidra
Nikoletta
N
Sofrona
Stavroula
S
Magkanari
Flora
F
Yannakoulia
Mary
M
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013689:Telephone