Identifying Novel Data-Driven Dietary Patterns via Dimensionality Reduction and Associations with Socioeconomic Profile and Health Outcomes in Ireland

Dietary patterns and body mass index (BMI) play a significant role in the development of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, including Ireland. A cross-sectional survey was conducted across Ireland to collate respondents' socioeconomic profiles, health status, and dietary patterns with a representative sample size of 957 adult respondents. Principal component analysis (PCA) and statistical analyses were subsequently employed. To the author's knowledge, this is the first study to use recent (2021) nationally representative data to characterise dietary patterns in Ireland via dimensionality reduction. Five distinct dietary patterns (meat-focused, dairy/ovo-focused, vegetable-focused, seafood-focused, and potato-focused) were identified and statistically characterised. The potato-focused group exhibited the highest mean BMI (26.88 kg/m(2)), while the vegetable-focused group had the lowest (24.68 kg/m(2)). Vegetable-focused respondents were more likely to be associated with a categorically healthy BMI (OR = 1.90) and urban residency (OR = 2.03). Conversely, meat-focused respondents were more likely to have obesity (OR = 1.46) and rural residency (OR = 1.72) along with the potato-focused group (OR = 2.15). Results show that data-derived dietary patterns may better predict health outcomes than self-reported dietary patterns, and transitioning to diets focusing on vegetables, seafood, and lower meat consumption may improve health.

Automated summary

Dietary patterns and body mass index (BMI) have a significant impact on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, including Ireland. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ireland using representative data from 957 adult respondents to examine the relationship between socioeconomic profiles, health status, dietary patterns, and BMI. Five distinct dietary patterns were identified - meat-focused, dairy/ovo-focused, vegetable-focused, seafood-focused, and potato-focused - with the potato-focused group showing the highest mean BMI and the vegetable-focused group showing the lowest. The results suggest that shifting towards diets that prioritize vegetables, seafood, and lower meat consumption may improve health outcomes.