Topical Area: Energy and Macronutrient Metabolism, Obesity

Objectives :

USDA established MyPlate as a guide to establish healthier eating choices.  We investigated the influence of USDA MyPlate food group consumption on Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) parameters in Weber State students. We hypothesize that variation in the consumption amount and the percentage of daily calorie goals for each of the five food groups (grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein, and empty calories) will significantly modulate MetS in the study participants.

Methods :

MetS parameters were measured in 236 Weber State University student participants, ages 18-59 years.

Two-day diet records for each participant were collected and analyzed using Diet and Wellness Plus.

Multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was conducted to determine the influences of food groups on the

MetS parameters.

Results :

According to the MLR analysis conducted using MetS and food groups as predictors; we found that for an ounce increase in grain, SBP increased by 0.67239 mm/Hg (p =.001). DBP decreased by 0.87999 mm/Hg (p=.001448) per cup increase of dairy. Similarly, a one cup increase of fruit was associated with a Glucose increase of 0.96578 mg/dL (p =.029). For each percentage increase of empty calorie percentage, HDL-C increased by 0.018054 mg/dL (p =.001)and LDL-C increased by 0.014072 mg/dL (p =.005).

Conclusions :

Specific food groups accounted for some of the variability of multiple parameters. Among the food

groups studied; Grain consumption was the best predictor for systolic blood pressure. Dairy was the

most influential for diastolic blood pressure. Glucose was influenced by fruit amount consumption.

Empty calorie consumption was the most important predictor of HDL-C and LDL-C. Finally, details on

specific food components within the food groups may help to enhance the models to predict these

metabolic parameters.

Funding Sources :

Weber State University, Office of Undergraduate Research.

Presenting Author(s)

• AB

  Adam Baker

  Student
  Weber State University

Co-Author(s)

• AN

  Alexander Nielson

  student
  Weber State University

• JC

  Julian Chan

  Associate Professor
  Weber State University

• DA

  David Aguilar-Alvarez

  Weber State University