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Meta-Analysis
. 2024 Dec;13(4):755-788.
doi: 10.1007/s13679-024-00589-6. Epub 2024 Sep 27.

Diet Quality Scores, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Alicia Larruy-García  1 , Lubna Mahmood  1 , María L Miguel-Berges  1   2 , Guiomar Masip  1 , Miguel Seral-Cortés  1   2 , Pilar De Miguel-Etayo  3   4 , Luis A Moreno  1   2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Diet Quality Scores, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Alicia Larruy-García et al. Curr Obes Rep. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose of review: We aimed to examine the relationship between various diet quality scores and obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents.

Recent findings: Obesity and MetS, which increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease from childhood through adolescence, have been associated with adherence to various diet quality scores. A systematic search was performed in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, SciELO, Embase, and Cochrane, covering the period until March 2024. Two researchers evaluated 3,519 studies according to the inclusion criteria. Finally, 73 articles that analysed the relationship between diet quality scores and obesity and MetS were included, and 6 of them were included in a meta-analysis. Children younger than 12 years old showed statistically significant differences indicating a higher Mediterranean diet (MD) score adherence compared to those with a low score adherence for BMI (MD = 0.33 kg/m2, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.64) and WC values (MD = 1.21 cm, 95% CI: 0.50, 1.93). Additionally, in the meta-regression analysis, boys showed stronger associations for BMI, z-score BMI and WC (β = 19.82, 95% CI: 17.62, 22.03, β = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.96 and β = 67.03, 95% CI: 57.29, 76.77, respectively). Studies in this review suggest an association between high adherence to different diet quality scores and low BMI. Meta-analysis assessing the association between adherence to the MD and BMI, and WC, showed a protective effect of the MD pattern against obesity outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analyses provided evidence on the effect of the diet quality on obesity and MetS in children and adolescents.

Keywords: Diet quality; Mediterranean diet; Meta-analysis; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flowchart of study selection
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Random-effects meta-analysis of the effects of low adherence versus high adherence to the MD scores on BMI. A BMI differences between low and high adherence to the MD scores. B Subgroup analyses by sex. C Subgroup analyses by age. Abbreviations: MD, Mediterranean diet; BMI, Body Mass Index
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Random-effects meta-analysis of the effects of low adherence versus high adherence to the MD scores on WC. A WC differences between low and high adherence to the MD scores. B Subgroup analyses by sex. C Subgroup analyses by age. Abbreviations: MD, Mediterranean diet; WC, Waist Circumference
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