Higher Diet Quality in Adolescence and Dietary Improvements Are Related to Less Weight Gain During the Transition From Adolescence to Adulthood

Abstract

Objectives To examine the previously validated A Priori Diet Quality Score (APDQS), and weight change among adolescents transitioning into young adulthood. Study design Young people were recruited in middle/high schools and followed for 10 years. Participants reported diet and weight in 1999 (mean age 15 years), 2004 (20 years) and 2009 (25 years). The analytic sample (n=2,656) had dietary intake assessments in 1999 and at least one other assessment. The APDQS (without alcoholic items) was based on 13 beneficial, 12 adverse, and 9 neutral food groups to capture aspects of Mediterranean/prudent diets, focusing on foods that are varied, based on nutritionally-rich plants, and less processed. Results From mean age 15 to 25, mean (SD) weight increased from 61.0 (14.7) to 76.1 (18.8) kg, and APDQS increased from 43.1 (11.1) to 45.6 (10.7) kg. Within-person tracking correlation of the APDQS was 0.35 from mean age 15 to 20 years, increasing to 0.49 from 20 to 25 years. Independent of lifestyle factors and energy intake, a 15-point (interquartile-range) higher APDQS in 1999 was associated with 1.5 kg (95% CI: 0.7, 2.3) less weight gain over 10 years; increase in APDQS over time was similarly associated with less concurrent weight gain. Findings were stronger for models of excess weight gain. Conclusions Higher diet quality, based on an assessment of dietary patterns in and after adolescence, was associated with reduced weight gain during the next 10 years. Establishment of high-quality dietary patterns in adolescence may help mitigate excess weight gain by young adulthood.

Dietary patterns of >30,000 adolescents 9–15 years of age in rural Bangladesh

“…During adolescence, children gain greater autonomy in decisions related to food purchase and consumption and greater exposure to food environments outside of the home . Understanding the factors that influence dietary behavior during the transition from childhood to adulthood can help inform the development of effective interventions to establish positive dietary practices that may improve nutrition and health outcomes later in the life cycle …”

Rice Endosperm Protein Administration to Juvenile Mice Regulates Gut Microbiota and Suppresses the Development of High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Related Disorders in Adulthood

“…Childhood dietary patterns are clinically associated with risk of developing obesity and related diseases in adulthood in humans [39]. A higher quality diet in adolescence along with dietary improvements are related to the prevention of obesity during the transition from adolescence to adulthood [39].…”

“…Childhood dietary patterns are clinically associated with risk of developing obesity and related diseases in adulthood in humans [39]. A higher quality diet in adolescence along with dietary improvements are related to the prevention of obesity during the transition from adolescence to adulthood [39]. Interestingly, the early life stage has been identified as an important period in which the gut microbiota evolve towards an adult-like state, which is thought to be closely linked to diet during this period [40].…”

Qualimetric assessment of diets

“…On the third level each group of properties also consists of several indexes: macronutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates); vitamins (thiamine, ribofflavinum, perydoxine, cevitamic acid); mineral matters (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium) ( [25][26][27][28][29][30].…”