A. A. Abdurahman*, L. Azadbakhat, N. Shivappa, J. Hebert, M. Abshirini, M. Qorbani, A. R. Dorosty
Background: Little evidence is existing about the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII®) and Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) as a diet quality index with food insecurity (FI). The aim of the present study was to determine the association of diet quality indices (DII and AHIE) with household FI in Iranian obese people.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 obese people aged 19-59 years in Tehran from July to October 2017. DII scores were computed based on the overall inflammatory properties of dietary components using dietary intake assessed by a valid and reliable 168 items food frequency questionnaire. Diet quality was measured using the Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHIE-2010). FI was measured using an adapted household food security status questionnaire.
Results: The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of FI was 44% (38-49), with 39.7% of households experiencing FI without hunger, 3.0% FI with moderate hunger, and 1.3% FI with severe hunger. In multivariate model, subjects in the last quartile of DII had higher odds of FI compared to the first quartile [AOR = 3.3 (95% CI =1.6-7.1), p-trend = 0.004]) Moreover, those who were in the last quartile of AHEI had lower odds of FI compared to the first quartile [AOR = 0.3 (95% CI: 0.1- 0.6), p trend = 0.001].
Conclusions: Household food insecurity positively associated with a proinflammatory DII score among obese people in Iran. Improving the food and nutrition security of obese people may be a strategy to reduce obesity-related chronic conditions in this group of people.
