Diet Quality of Northern Mexican Woman With Obesity and Diabetes, Measured by the Diet Quality Index–International (DQI-I)

Objectives: To evaluate the diet quality of women with normal weight, obesity and obesity and diabetes, using the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I). Methods: One hundred and thirty-five mothers from 18 to 49 years of age were recruited at the Hospital Regional Materno Infantil de Alta Especialidad (HRMIAE) in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. Mothers were categorized into three study groups based on their pre-pregnancy BMI and total weight gain at the conclusion of their pregnancy: 1) Normal weight (NW), 2) Overweight or Obesity (OVv/OB) and 3) Overweight or Obesity in addition to diabetes (OB + DB). Dietary intake information was collected using a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Nutrient intakes were computed by multiplying the frequency response by the nutrient content of specified portion sizes. A Python script was developed for this purpose, utilizing the Pandas library to search for the required foods and their nutritional values from validated Mexican databases. The Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) was calculated using a comprehensive scoring system that evaluates key criteria to assess the quality of an individual's diet. DQI-I encompasses four primary components: variety, dietary, moderation, and overall balance. Results: Out of the 135 participants with complete information, 47 (34%) were normal weight, 57 (41%) OV/OB and 31 (22%) OB+DB. The mean age of the overall sample was 24.5 years, with no significant difference in age for the normal weight and overweight/obesity group. Infant birth weight was significantly higher for the OV/OB and OB+DB groups, but no significant differences were found for infant birth height. The mean (±SD) DQI-I score for the overall sample was 68.51, showing no significant differences among the groups. As for the variety parameter, the three groups recorded the highest score achievable, 20. In the assessment of adequacy, the scores were close to the top score 40 (normal weight 37.02, overweight/ obesity 36.05, and obesity and diabetes 35.16). Remarkably all three groups had substantially lower scores for moderation (11.04 - 12.07, out of 30) and overall balance (0.55 - 0.98 out of 10). Conclusions: Total moderation and overall balance significantly affect the total diet quality. Funding Sources: Challenge-based research grant 2023 - Tecnológico de Monterrey.