Dietary patterns in Irish adolescents: a comparison of cluster and principal component analyses.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Pattern analysis of adolescent diets may provide an important basis for nutritional health promotion. The aims of the present study were to examine and compare dietary patterns in adolescents using cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) and to examine the impact of the format of the dietary variables on the solutions.

Design

Analysis was based on the Irish National Teens Food Survey, in which food intake data were collected using a semi-quantitative 7 d food diary. Thirty-two food groups were created and were expressed as either g/d or percentage contribution to total energy. Dietary patterns were identified using cluster analysis (k-means) and PCA.

Setting

Republic of Ireland, 2005-2006.

Subjects

A representative sample of 441 adoles

SUBMITTER: Hearty AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10271568 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature