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Stability of dietary patterns in young women over a 2-year period

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 62, pages 119–126 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To examine the stability of dietary patterns in young women over a two-year period and to identify factors that influence stability.

Design:

A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess diet. In a subgroup, this was repeated after 2 years. Questions were asked about major changes to diet over this time. Dietary patterns were identified using principal components analysis and pattern scores were compared at the two time points. The consumption of foods was also examined. The relationship between change in pattern scores and socio-demographic factors and body mass index was assessed.

Setting:

The Southampton Women's Survey, a prospective study of diet, health and lifestyle in young women and their influences on fetal growth

Subjects:

A subgroup of 94 women from a cohort of 6129 nonpregnant women aged 20–34 years.

Results:

Two dietary patterns, labelled ‘prudent’ and ‘high energy’, were identified. Spearman correlation coefficients between the initial and repeat scores for the prudent and high-energy patterns were 0.81 and 0.64, respectively. Average changes (repeat – initial) were 0.13 and −0.01 SD of initial score. Change in prudent dietary pattern score was influenced by amount of strenuous exercise taken and by changes in partnership status. An increase in high-energy pattern score was associated with lower social class.

Conclusions:

Dietary patterns in young women are reasonably stable over a 2-year period. This suggests that dietary patterns identified in the recent past may provide useful information about current dietary patterns.

Sponsorship:

The study was funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust, the University of Southampton and the Medical Research Council.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the General Practitioners of Southampton who made this study possible, the Southampton Women's Survey staff and particularly to the women of Southampton who took part. This work was funded by the Medical Research Council, the Dunhill Medical Trust and the University of Southampton.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, Southampton General Hospital, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK

    S E Borland, S M Robinson, S R Crozier & H M Inskip

Authors
  1. S E Borland
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  2. S M Robinson
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  3. S R Crozier
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  4. H M Inskip
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and the SWS Study Group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S E Borland.

Additional information

Guarantor: SE Borland.

Contributors: SMR, HMI and SEB were responsible for the study design. SEB co-ordinated this sub-study, whereas HMI co-ordinated the Southampton Women's Survey. SRC performed all statistical analyses. SMR and SEB processed the dietary data and drafted the manuscript. All authors contributed to the interpretation of the data and approved the final version.

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Borland, S., Robinson, S., Crozier, S. et al. Stability of dietary patterns in young women over a 2-year period. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 119–126 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602684

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