From a recent study published in Scientific reports, researchers identified and evaluated the associations between major dietary patterns and metabolic risk factors in adults from northwestern Ethiopia.
Background
Metabolic risk factors such as abdominal obesity, high body mass index (BMI) and hypertension are major contributors to the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, with significant impacts in developing countries.
These factors cause metabolic disorders that lead to chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). More than a billion people worldwide suffer from high blood pressure, and obesity rates are alarmingly high.
Dietary habits have a major influence on these risk factors. Studies indicate a shift toward unhealthy, processed food consumption due to food safety issues and cultural changes.
Further research is needed to understand how regional dietary patterns in developing countries such as Ethiopia influence metabolic risk factors and to inform effective nutritional interventions and policies for NCD prevention.
About the study
In a community-based cross-sectional study conducted from May to June 2021 in Bahir Dar, Northwestern Ethiopia, 423 adults were recruited from residential homes using a systematic random sampling technique.
This sample size was calculated based on assumptions of a prevalence rate of 50%, a confidence level of 95%, and an estimated non-response rate of 10%. Eligible participants were adults aged 18 to 65 who had lived in the area for at least six months.
Adult diets were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), which included fourteen food groups: vegetables, fruits, grains, meat, dairy, and fast food. Participants were asked how often they consumed these food groups in the past month.
Physical measurements such as weight, hip/tail circumference, height and blood pressure were taken using standardized tools. Blood pressure measurements were taken twice and the average was used for analysis.
Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg. BMI was calculated, with values of 25-30 kg/m classified as overweight and ≥ 30 as obese. The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was also calculated, with ≥ 0.85 for women and ≥ 0.90 for men indicating abdominal obesity.
Data were coded and analyzed using Epi Data software and SPSS. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify dietary patterns, and logistic regression analysis examined the associations between dietary patterns and metabolic risk factors.
Variables showing associations in bivariable analysis were adjusted in multivariable logistic regression to identify significant predictors. The study complied with ethical guidelines and received approval from relevant committees.
Study results
The current study, conducted in northwestern Ethiopia, identified four major dietary patterns among 415 adults: the 'Westernized' and 'traditional' patterns.
The Westernized pattern was characterized by higher consumption of meat, dairy, fruit, fast food, alcoholic drinks, fish and sweet foods. Conversely, the traditional pattern was characterized by frequent intake of vegetables, legumes, roots, grains, tubers, coffee and oils.
The prevalence of metabolic risk factors such as hypertension, overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity varied within the population. It was striking that high blood pressure was significantly lower in adults who adhered more to a Westernized diet.
Specifically, those in the third and fourth quantiles of this pattern were 72% and 65% less likely to have hypertension, respectively, than those in the first. However, no significant associations were observed between dietary patterns and other metabolic risk factors such as overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity.
Demographically, younger, married, and middle-income adults were more likely to adhere to the Westernized pattern, while women and middle-income individuals were more associated with the traditional pattern. These associations highlight the influence of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors on dietary choices in the region.
Furthermore, the study's findings add to the growing body of evidence on the impact of dietary habits on health outcomes, especially in developing countries.
Identifying these specific dietary patterns in northwestern Ethiopia provides valuable insights into local food consumption trends and their implications for metabolic health. This knowledge is crucial for formulating targeted interventions and policies to combat the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in the region, partly caused by nutritional factors.
The results underscore the complexity of dietary habits and their link to health outcomes, which are influenced by geography, culture, socioeconomic status and individual lifestyle choices.
This complexity necessitates further research to unravel the complicated relationships between diet and health, especially in rapidly changing societies.
Conclusions
The current study identified 'Westernized' and 'traditional' dietary patterns among adults. The Westernized way, rich in fruits, meat and fast food, significantly correlated with lower hypertension rates, especially in higher quantiles.
However, no substantial link was found between the traditional pattern, focused on grains and vegetables, and metabolic risks such as high blood pressure or obesity.
Demographic trends showed that younger, married, and middle-income adults preferred the Westernized pattern, while the traditional pattern was more common among women and middle-income individuals. These insights are critical for developing region-specific nutritional interventions to address the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases.
