Association between body composition and conformity to the recommendations of Canada's Food Guide and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet in peri-adolescence.
OBJECTIVE
The role of following the recommendations of Canada's Food Guide (CFG) and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on body composition in children is unknown. The present study assessed how conformity to the recommendations of these diets was associated with BMI, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist girth (WG), hip girth (HG) and risk of overweight in peri-adolescents.


METHODS
CFG and DASH indices were derived from responses to a food questionnaire, with a higher index representing greater conformity to CFG and DASH diet recommendations. Body composition was assessed by trained research assistants.


METHODS
Schools within the Niagara region (Ontario, Canada).


METHODS
Children (n 1570) aged 12.4 (sd 0.3) years.


RESULTS
After adjustment for age to peak height velocity and total physical activity, a higher CFG index was associated with lower WHtR (b = -0.001, 95 % CI -0.002, -0.0004), WHR (b = -0.001, 95 % CI -0.002, -0.001) and WG (b = -0.18, 95 % CI -0.30, -0.07) in girls. No associations were observed in boys. In contrast, a higher DASH index was associated with decreased body composition measures in both genders. Specifically, the DASH index was negatively associated with BMI (girls: b = -0.07, 95 % CI -0.10, -0.04; boys: b = -0.05, 95 % CI -0.08, -0.02), WHtR (girls: b = -0.001, 95 % CI -0.002, -0.001; boys: b = -0.001, 95 % CI -0.002, -0.0004), WHR (girls: b = -0.001, 95 % CI -0.002, -0.001; boys: b = -0.001, 95 % CI -0.001, -0.00004), WG (girls: b = -0.24, 95 % CI -0.31, -0.16; boys: b = -0.15, 95 % CI -0.24, -0.07) and HG (girls: b = -0.15, 95 % CI -0.23, -0.07; boys: b = -0.12, 95 % CI -0.19, -0.04). A higher DASH index was also associated with lower odds of overweight in girls (OR = 0.70, 95 % CI 0.56, 0.87) and boys (OR = 0.76, 95 % CI 0.62, 0.93).


CONCLUSIONS
The DASH diet may prevent overweight in peri-adolescents.
Department of Community Health Sciences, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, St Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
Samantha
S
Hajna
Jian
J
Liu
Paul J
PJ
LeBlanc
Brent E
BE
Faught
Anwar T
AT
Merchant
John
J
Cairney
John
J
Hay
D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012737:Sex Factors; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary