Association between dietary patterns and sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics in adults and older adults: the EpiCOVID-Piauí study

Identifying dietary recommendations based on foods that are ideal for preventing chronic diseases is currently viewed as a public health priority, making research on dietary patterns essential. To investigate the association between dietary patterns among the adult and older adult population of Teresina (Piauí) and sociodemographic and lifestyle aspects, a household-based survey (EpiCOVID-Piauí) was conducted from March to November 2022, including adults and older adults. Demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and dietary intake data were collected. Dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. The association between the other variables was analyzed using ordinal logistic regression. Three dietary patterns were identified: the “ultra-processed foods” dietary pattern, the “traditional” dietary pattern, and the “healthy” dietary pattern. For the “ultra-processed foods” dietary pattern, a protective effect was observed for older adults and women, as they had lower odds of belonging to the higher tertiles of ultra-processed food consumption, whereas those with higher levels of education and screen time (>6 hours) had greater odds of adherence to this pattern. Furthermore, smokers had lower odds of adherence to the Traditional dietary pattern. In summary, the dietary patterns of the population studied are linked to sociodemographic factors and should be taken into account in initiatives to promote healthy eating habits in order to prevent Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases, which will contribute to longevity and improved quality of life for the population.