Dietary habits and complex food relations in Northwest China: a population-based network analysis

Abstract

Introduction: This study examines dietary network in Northwest China, focusing on food group consumption and regional trends using network analysis.

Methods: Data from 106 424 participants in the Regional Ethnic Cohort Study were calculated using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. We compared intake with the 2022 Chinese Dietary Guidelines and employed the EBICglasso method to construct dietary and staple food-related network, assessing its stability and accuracy.

Results: Northwest China's staple food intake was 37.5% of total consumption, dominated by wheat. Compared with the Chinese dietary guidelines, participants' intake of staple foods, soybeans and nuts was within the acceptable range, with insufficient intake of whole grains and beans, animal source of foods, eggs, fruits and vegetables but excessive intake of salt. Intake varied by province, sex and age. In overall participants, the strongest correlations were found between the two food groups, namely fruits and vegetables (0.33), and animal source of foods and dairy products (0.24) in dietary network. Soybeans and nuts appeared to connect to more other foods and also higher correlation with other foods and were followed by animal source of food. The staple food-related food network indicated that the intake of rice, whole grains and beans, and potatoes was positively correlated with the intake of most other foods, while intake of wheat was negatively correlated with foods of animal source of food, milk and dairy products.

Conclusions: Northwest China's diet exhibits irrational patterns, highlighting the importance of assessing overall dietary patterns in nutritional evaluation.

Keywords: Dietary patterns; Nutrient deficiencies; Nutrition assessment.

Figure 1. Studying the setting and percentage of intake of main foods and staple foods in Northwest China.

Figure 2. Median intake (P25, P75) of foods /food groups in Northwest China (g/day). Note: The recommended intake range of whole grains and beans is 50–150 g/day, and the optimal level of milk and dairy products is 300–500 g/day.

Figure 3. Visualisations of dietary network in overall participants and by province. Note: Blue and red edges represent positive and negative associations, respectively. Wider and more saturated edges indicate higher strengths.

Figure 4. Visualisations of all food networks and staple food-related network in overall participants and by province. Note: node size was determined by degree, while edge thickness varied proportionally to correlation coefficient values; nodes were colour-coded based on food special.

Figure 5. Visualisations of rice and wheat-related network in overall participants and by province. Note: node size was determined by degree, while edge thickness varied proportionally to correlation coefficient values. Nodes were colour-coded based on food special.