The Australian Recommended Food Score did not predict weight gain in middle‐aged Australian women during six years of follow‐up. (30th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aljadani, Haya M.A.; Sibbritt, David; Patterson, Amanda; Collins, Clare
• Is Part Of: Australian and New Zealand journal of public health. Volume 37:Number 4(2013:Aug.)
• Page Start: 322
• Page End: 328
• Publication Date: 2013-07-30
• Subjects: Public health -- Australia -- Periodicals; Public health -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Australia -- Periodicals; Medical care -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; 362.10993
• DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.12079
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1326-0200

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold> <italic>Objective</italic> </bold>: To evaluate the relationship between diet quality score, as measured by the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) and six‐year weight gain in middle‐aged Australian women.</p> <p> <bold> <italic>Methods</italic> </bold>: Participants were a sub‐sample of women from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) who were followed up from 2001 to 2007 (n= 7, 155, aged 48 to 56 years). The ARFS was derived from responses to a sub‐set of questions from a food frequency questionnaire, with possible scores ranging from 0 to 74 (maximum). Absolute weight gain was calculated from the difference in self‐reported weight between 2001 and 2007. Linear regression was used to test the relationship between diet score and weight change.</p> <p> <bold> <italic>Results</italic> </bold>: On average, women gained weight during follow‐up (1.6 ± 6.2 kg) and had a mean baseline ARFS of 32.6 (SD 8.7) which was not optimal. There was no association between ARFS and weight change during follow‐up (β= 0.016; <italic>p</italic>=0.08) in the fully adjusted model that included total energy intake, education, area of residence, baseline weight, physical activity, smoking and menopause status.</p> <p> <bold> <italic>Conclusions</italic> </bold>: Weight gain and low ARFS were common. However, diet quality as measured by the ARFS did not predict six‐year weight gain.</p> <p> <bold> <italic>Implications</italic> </bold>: This lack of association may be due to limitations related to AFRS, or may be a false negative finding. Further research is warranted to evaluate the impact of promoting optimal diet quality on weight gain prospectively.</p> </abstract>