Dc. Greenwood et al., Seven unique food consumption patterns identified among women in the UK Women's Cohort Study, EUR J CL N, 54(4), 2000, pp. 314-320
Objective: To identify groups of subjects with similar food consumption pat
terns so that complex disease - diet relationships can be investigated at t
he level of the whole diet, rather than just in terms of nutrient intake.
Subjects: 33,971 women in the GX Women's Cohort Study. 60,000 women on the
World Cancer Research Fund mailing list were initially invited to take part
. Subjects were selected to include a high proportion of vegetarians.
Design: The cohort completed a 217 item food frequency questionnaire. Clust
er analysis was used to identify groups of women with similar food consumpt
ion patterns. Clusters were compared on socio-demographic characteristics,
indicators of health and diet, and nutrient intakes.
Results: Seven clusters were identified including two vegetarian clusters.
Groups appeared to be differentiated by differences in food types and in di
versity of diet. Socio-demographic, health and diet characteristics and nut
rient intakes all differed significantly between groups.
Conclusion: Classifying diets in more pragmatic terms than just nutrient in
take should provide valuable insight into understanding complex diet-diseas
e relationships. Dietary advice, whilst based on nutrient content of meals,
needs to take account of the combinations of different food types that peo
ple naturally choose to use together.
Sponsorship:World Cancer Research Fund.