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Listen to this siteWednesday 5 March 2008
Study Duration : April 2007 July 2008
Contractor : Glasgow Caledonian University School of Life Science
This project aimed to advance the work already undertaken by FSAS on monitoring the diet in the Scottish population. Until now dietary monitoring has focused on intakes of individual nutrients and foods or food groups. This project used existing data sets to examine the overall diet by deriving dietary patterns using principal component analysis (PCA) and also to measure how well the diet met current dietary guidelines using a Dietary Quality Index (DQI).
Scottish Health Survey (SHS 2003) and Expenditure and Food Survey (EFS 2001-2004) data on individuals and households were used to describe dietary patterns and dietary quality in sub-groups of the Scottish population. Dietary patterns were derived by utilising PCA; a data-driven technique for identifying foods or food groups commonly consumed together as a single exposure or ‘type of diet’. Diet quality was assessed by developing and using a DQI. Associations with socio-economic status, lifestyle factors and health outcomes were then tested.
This project aimed to advance the work already being undertaken on monitoring food and nutrient intakes in Scotland. The results describe the diet overall by deriving dietary patterns using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and measuring how well the diet meets current dietary guidelines using a Dietary Quality Index (DQI).
Limited dietary information available from the Eating Habits module of SHS (2003) was used to describe dietary patterns and dietary quality in individuals. Purchase data on Household and Eaten Out food from the EFS (2001-2004 combined) was used to describe dietary patterns and dietary quality in households.
Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is a data-driven technique for identifying foods or food groups commonly consumed together as a single exposure or ‘type of diet’. Each dietary pattern identified was assessed for associations with socio-economic status, lifestyle factors and health outcomes.
In all age groups, PCA identified at least one healthy and one energy dense dietary pattern from SHS data. Four dietary patterns emerged from EFS data including a ‘take-away’ and a ‘traditional’ meat and two veg pattern.
A Dietary Quality Index (DQI) was specifically designed for this project. The DQI was the total number of points scored by each individual or household according to whether or not their reported diet met specific dietary guidelines. The main dietary guidelines used were the Scottish Dietary Targets.
Diet quality clearly increased with age; younger age groups were more likely to have a poorer diet with the lowest mean DQI in the 11-15 year olds and highest in individuals aged > 64 years.
In both surveys there was evidence to suggest a significant influence of socio-economic status on dietary patterns and dietary quality. Increasing deprivation, decreasing household income and a lower social status were more closely linked to energy dense eating patterns, less closely linked to healthy patterns and associated with a lower DQI.
A higher energy dense pattern score was associated with increased screen viewing and a greater risk of higher total cholesterol: HDL ratio (cardiovascular disease risk factor). DQI was higher in non-smokers, those with higher levels of physical activity and less screen viewing.
The results indicated that the particular groups who may benefit most from initiatives to improve dietary intake include children, young people, adult males, smokers and those with high levels of screen viewing, particularly those from the lower socio-economic groups.
Increasing deprivation, decreasing household income and decreasing social class were all linked to following energy dense eating patterns more closely, following healthier patterns less closely, and having a lower DQI. There was a significant effect of age on dietary patterns and diet quality. The results also confirmed an relationship between diet and lifestyle factors, with smoking and increased screen viewing associated with a poorer diet.
A full report is available on (External) Foodbase .
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