Key result
Distinct dietary patterns are linked to cardiometabolic risk factors, including Western diet with higher cholesterol.
Why the study?
Limited evidence exists on the influence of dietary patterns on cardiometabolic risk factors among South African teachers.
Do specific habitual dietary patterns influence cardiometabolic risk factors in a cohort of South African teachers?
Cross-Sectional (n=201)
Yes
Do specific habitual dietary patterns influence cardiometabolic risk factors in a cohort of South African teachers?
p-value: p=0.03
Distinct dietary patterns, particularly Western diets, are significantly associated with adverse cardiometabolic risk factors like dyslipidaemia and elevated fasting glucose among rural South African teachers.
Dietary patterns may link to cardiometabolic risks in teachers; leaves open causal inference and needs prospective confirmation before practice change.
BACKGROUND: Cardiometabolic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and type 2 diabetes are major contributors to morbidity and mortality. Diet is a modifiable risk factor, yet limited evidence exists on its influence on cardiometabolic outcomes among South African teachers. AIM: To identify dietary patterns and examine their associations with cardiometabolic risk factors among teachers in Makhado Municipality, Limpopo province. SETTING: Rural public schools within Makhado Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 201 teachers selected using stratified random sampling. Data included demographic information, blood pressure, fasting glucose (FG), lipid profiles and anthropometry. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire that reflected habitual intake. Exploratory factor analysis identified dietary patterns. Associations were analysed using nonparametric tests in STATA version 17 (p 0.05). RESULTS: Six dietary patterns emerged: mixed, Western, meat-free, Mediterranean fish-free, animal starch product and low-carbohydrates and Mediterranean. The mixed pattern was associated with systolic blood pressure (p = 0.03). The Western pattern was associated with total cholesterol (p = 0.04) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.02). Meat-free and Mediterranean fish-free patterns were associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.03), while the animal protein fruit pattern was associated with FG (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Distinct dietary patterns were associated with cardiometabolic risk among teachers, highlighting the need for culturally appropriate dietary interventions.Contribution: This study provides context-specific evidence that may inform the development of culturally appropriate nutrition interventions, workplace wellness programmes, and primary health care policies aimed at improving cardiometabolic health and reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases among teachers.
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Ratshilivha et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiometabolic risk factors (n=201). Dietary patterns (e.g., Western, Mixed, Meat-free) was evaluated on Association between mixed dietary pattern scores and systolic blood pressure categories (p=0.03). Among South African teachers, distinct empirically derived dietary patterns were significantly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors, including a Western pattern correlating with higher total cholesterol (p=0.04).
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