Identification of an Obesogenic Dietary Pattern Using Partial Least Squares in a Nationally-Representative Sample of Canadian Adults

Abstract Objectives Hybrid methods of dietary patterns analysis have emerged as a unique and informative way to study diet-disease relationships in nutritional epidemiology research. The objectives of this research were to identify an obesogenic dietary pattern using weighted PLS in nationally-representative Canadian survey data, and to identify key foods and/or beverages associated with the defined obesogenic pattern. Methods Data from one 24-hr dietary recall data from the cross-sectional Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition (CCHS) 2015 (n = 12,110 adults) were used. Weighed partial least squares (wPLS) was used to identify an obesogenic dietary pattern from 40 standardized food and/or beverage categories using the variables energy density, fibre density, and total fat as outcomes. The association between the derived dietary pattern and likelihood of obesity was examined using weighted multivariate logistic regression. Key dietary components highly associated with the derived pattern were identified. Results Compared to quartile one (i.e., those least adherent to an obesogenic dietary pattern), those in quartile four had a 2.40-fold increased odds of being obese (OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.91, 3.02, P-trend < 0.0001) with a monotonically increasing trend. Using a factor loading significance cut-off of ≥|0.17|, three food/beverage categories loaded positively for the derived obesogenic dietary pattern: fast food, carbonated drinks and salty snacks. Seven food/beverage categories loaded negatively (i.e., in the protective direction): consumption of whole fruits, orange vegetables, “other” vegetables (including vegetable juice), whole grains, dark green vegetables, legumes and soy, and pasta and rice. Conclusions This study pinpoints key dietary components that are associated with obesity and consumed among a nationally-representative sample of Canadians adults. Compared to a similarly-defined obesogenic diet identified by our research group in 2004, the top contributors to a Canadian-specific obesogenic diet in 2015 have remained consistent. This evidence may aid in developing targeted policies and dietary interventions for obesity and chronic disease prevention. Funding Sources Supported by grants from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Innovation in Regulatory Science Award and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.