Diet Quality Patterns and Visceral Fat
Author Information
Author(s): Annalena Thimm, Gertraud Maskarinec, Guillermo Cherie, Nimptsch Katharina, Pischon Tobias
Primary Institution: Max Delbrück Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Berlin, Germany
Hypothesis
What is the association between diet quality patterns and visceral adipose tissue (VAT)?
Conclusion
A high-quality diet is generally inversely associated with visceral adipose tissue, while results for less structured dietary patterns are less consistent.
Supporting Evidence
- Thirty-five studies were included in the review, with 81% of a priori diet quality patterns showing significant inverse associations with VAT.
- Results were more consistent in younger populations and multi-ethnic studies compared to older individuals and single-ethnic studies.
- High-quality diets, as assessed by a priori diet quality patterns, are generally linked to lower levels of visceral fat.
Takeaway
Eating healthy foods can help reduce belly fat, but the results can vary depending on how you measure diet quality.
Methodology
Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies assessing diet quality patterns and their association with VAT using imaging methods.
Potential Biases
Serious risk of selection bias and missing data in many studies.
Limitations
The review is limited by the serious risk of bias in many studies and the heterogeneity of dietary assessment methods.
Participant Demographics
Included disease-free adults and adolescents, with a majority from the USA, and various ethnic backgrounds.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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