Objective: To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Shanghai adults, and explore their associations with dietary patterns.
Methods: Food frequency questionnaire information of 1535 adults aged > or = 18 years old were collected by multi-stage cluster random sampling method, and used for the identification of overweight and obesity based on the criteria from Working Group On Obesity In China. Factor analysis was applied to determine major dietary patterns that may potentially associated with overweight and obesity.
Results: Four dietary patterns were identified, namely "western food" pattern, "high protein and calcium" pattern, "fruits and snacks" pattern, "stapple food and vegetables" pattern. Whether or not controlling the confounding factors of age, gender and degree of education, a positively association was found between "stapple food and vegetables" pattern and obesity by logistic analysis (before adjustment, OR = 2.76 between the upper (Q4) and lower (Q1) quartile, P < 0.01, after adjustment, OR = 2.67 between Q4 and Q1, P < 0.01). The Q4 group of "stapple food and vegetables" pattern had higher proportion of carbohydrates that contributed to total energy than the Q1 group (43.9% vs. 34.3%, P < 0.01). The Q4 group of "stapple food and vegetables" pattern had higher energy intake of 1.96 - fold than the Q1 group.
Conclusion: "Stapple food and vegetables" pattern may be a risk factor for obesity.