Both empirical dietary patterns and the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Score are associated with adiposity in older adults in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests excess body fat poses a risk to health and all-cause mortality. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study explored associations between the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) Score and empirically derived dietary patterns and adiposity. DESIGN: This study is a secondary analysis of data from the REACH (Researching Eating, Activity and Cognitive Health) study. A validated 109-item food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake. Score/patterns were derived using the 2018 WCRF/AICR Score and principal component analysis. Demographic data was collected via a questionnaire. PARTICIPANTS: /setting: Participants were community-dwelling older adults (n=367, 65-74 years, 36% male) living in Auckland, New Zealand. Data were collected between April 2018 and February 2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adiposity outcomes were BMI, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, body fat %, visceral fat %, and android/gynoid ratio. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Linear regression was used with adiposity measures as the dependent variable, 2018 WCRF/AICR (excluding healthy weight component) and empirically derived patterns as the independent variable and age, sex, index of multiple deprivation, physical activity (empirically derived pattern only) and energy intake as the confounding variables. RESULTS: The 2018 WCRF/AICR Score (excluding healthy weight) was inversely associated with all six adiposity measures (standard betas between -0.28 and -0.14, all P<0.01). Three dietary patterns from principal component analysis explained 18% of dietary intake variation: 'Mediterranean-style' (salad/leafy cruciferous/other vegetables; avocados/olives; alliums; nuts/seeds; shellfish; white/oily fish; berries), 'prudent' (legumes; soy-based foods; whole grains; carrots) and 'Western' (processed meat/fish; sauces/condiments; cakes/biscuits/puddings; meat pies/hot chips). The 'Mediterranean-style' pattern was not associated with any adiposity measures. The 'prudent' pattern was inversely associated with BMI (standard beta = -0.15, P=0.008) and waist circumference (standard beta = -0.14, P=0.010). The 'Western' pattern was positively associated with waist circumference, visceral fat % and android/gynoid ratio (standard betas between 0.19 and 0.20, all P<0.0125). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest following the 2018 WCRF/AICR Score recommendations to be physically active; eat whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans; and limit processed foods, red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol may be associated with lower adiposity. In contrast, a 'Western' pattern may be associated with greater central adiposity.