Revised healthy lifestyle-diet index and associations with obesity and iron deficiency in schoolchildren: The healthy growth study

behalf of the 'Healthy Growth Study' group

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: The Healthy Lifestyle-Diet Index (HLD-index), previously developed to assess the degree of adherence to dietary and lifestyle guidelines for primary schoolchildren, was revised according to updated recommendations. Τhe association of the revised HLD-index (R-HLD-index) with obesity and iron deficiency (ID) was also examined. Methods: A representative sample of 2660 primary schoolchildren from Greece (9-13 years old) participating in the 'Healthy Growth Study' was examined. Twelve components related to dietary and lifestyle patterns were used to develop the R-HLD-index. Scores from 0 up to 4 were assigned to each one of these components, giving a total score ranging from 0 to 48. The associations between the R-HLD-index, obesity and ID were examined via logistic regression analysis. Results: The total score of the R-HLD-index calculated for each one of the study participants was found to range between 2 and 32 units, with higher scores being indicative of a healthier lifestyle and better diet quality. After adjusting for potential confounders, logistic regression analysis showed that an increase in the R-HLD-index score by one unit was associated with 6% lower odds for obesity. However, no significant association was observed between the R-HLD-index score and ID. Conclusions: The R-HLD-index may be a useful tool for public health policy makers and healthcare professionals when assessing diet quality and lifestyle patterns of primary schoolchildren. Identification of children with lower scores in the R-HLD-index and its individual components could guide tailored made interventions targeting specific children and behaviors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)50-58
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Volume28
Issue numbers2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2015

Keywords

  • Diet
  • Iron deficiency
  • Lifestyle patterns
  • Obesity
  • Primary schoolchildren

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