Children-Dietary Inflammatory Index and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Children with Overweight and Obesity: Are They Associated with Cardiometabolic Risk Parameters?

Purpose: This study was planned to assess the relationship between the children’s dietary inflammatory index (cDII), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (AMD), and metabolic control parameters in children with overweight and obesity. Methods: This cross-sectional was conducted in children with overweight and obesity aged 7-18 years. Sociodemographic, biochemical, dietary, and lifestyle data were collected using a questionnaire. Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) was used to evaluate AMD. Body weight, height, neck, waist, and hip circumference were measured. Dietary intake and cDII were assessed with a three-day food consumption record. Results: The mean cDII score was 2.2∓0.94 (range from -0.43 to 4.39). Of the total participants, 12% had high and 38.7% had low AMD. There were no significant differences between cDII and biochemical and anthropometric parameters. The proportion of participants with high insulin levels (53.4%) was higher in participants with low AMD group than in those with high AMD (32.6%) (p=0.011). The proportion of participants with insulin resistance was higher in the low AMD group than in the medium/high adherence group (53.4% vs. 37.0%, p=0.047). There was no significant relationship between AMD and lipid profile. Logistic regression analysis showed that participants with low AMD had high insulin levels to be 2.055 times (95% CI= 1.009-4.186. OR=2.055) compared to participants with moderate/high AMD (p=0.047). cDII scores and AMD were not associated with insulin resistance. Conclusion: This study showed that low AMD was associated with high insulin levels, but cDII was not associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in children with overweight and obesity.