Background: Dietary factors such as low energy density and low glycemic index were associated with a lower gain in
abdominal adiposity. A better understanding of which food groups/items contribute to these associations is necessary.
Objective: To ascertain the association of food groups/items consumption on prospective annual changes in ‘‘waist
circumference for a given BMI’’ (WCBMI), a proxy for abdominal adiposity.
Design: We analyzed data from 48,631 men and women from 5 countries participating in the European Prospective
Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Anthropometric measurements were obtained at baseline and after a
median follow-up time of 5.5 years. WCBMI was defined as the residuals of waist circumference regressed on BMI, and annual
change in WCBMI (DWCBMI, cm/y) was defined as the difference between residuals at follow-up and baseline, divided by
follow-up time. The association between food groups/items and DWCBMI was modelled using centre-specific adjusted linear
regression, and random-effects meta-analyses to obtain pooled estimates.
Results: Higher fruit and dairy products consumption was associated with a lower gain in WCBMI whereas the consumption
of white bread, processed meat, margarine, and soft drinks was positively associated with DWCBMI. When these six food
groups/items were analyzed in combination using a summary score, those in the highest quartile of the score – indicating a
more favourable dietary pattern –showed a DWCBMI of 20.11 (95% CI 20.09 to 20.14) cm/y compared to those in the
lowest quartile.
Conclusion: A dietary pattern high in fruit and dairy and low in white bread, processed meat, margarine, and soft drinks
may help to prevent abdominal fat accumulation.