title: Dietary Pattern Is Associated with Obesity in Older People in China: Data from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No studies have been conducted to explore the associations between dietary patterns and obesity among older Chinese people, by considering gender and urbanization level differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from the 2009 China Health and Nutrition Survey (2745 individuals, aged ≥ 60 years). Dietary data were obtained using 24 hour-recall over three consecutive days. Height, Body Weight, and Waist Circumference were measured. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify dietary patterns. Multinomial and Poisson regression models were used to examine the association between dietary patterns and Body Mass Index (BMI) status/central obesity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of general and central obesity was 9.5% and 53.4%. Traditional dietary pattern (high intake of rice, pork and vegetables) was inversely associated with general/central obesity; modern dietary pattern (high intake of fruit, fast food, and processed meat) was positively associated with general/central obesity. The highest quartile of traditional dietary pattern had a lower risk of general/central obesity compared with the lowest quartile, while an inverse picture was found for the modern dietary pattern. These associations were consistent by gender and urbanization levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary patterns are associated with general/central obesity in older Chinese. This study reinforces the importance of a healthy diet in promoting healthy ageing in China.
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, Hunter Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights NSW 2305, Australia. xiaoyue.xu@uon.edu.au.|Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Hunter Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights NSW 2305, Australia. xiaoyue.xu@uon.edu.au.
authors.forename: Xiaoyue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Hunter Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights NSW 2305, Australia. john.hall@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, Hunter Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights NSW 2305, Australia. julie.byles@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Byles
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. zumin.shi@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Zumin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D065840:Protective Factors; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D014504:Urban Health
keywords: central obesity; dietary pattern; gender; obesity; older Chinese people; urbanization levels