Empirical dietary inflammatory index and lifestyle inflammation score relationship with obesity: A population‐based cross‐sectional study

The present study aimed to investigate the association between the empirical dietary inflammatory index (EDII) and lifestyle inflammatory score (LIS) with general and abdominal obesity in Iranian adults using data from the Yazd Health study (YaHS). This cross‐sectional study was conducted using the information of participants of the YaHS study. The dietary assessment was conducted using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and anthropometric measurements assessed by standard protocols. The inflammatory potential of diet and lifestyle were calculated using EDII and LIS scores. We also created a combinational index of EDII and LIS as an EDII‐LIS score. General and abdominal obesity were defined based on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) cut points, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of general and abdominal obesity across tertiles of EDII and LIS were estimated using logistic regression analyses, adjusted for potential confounders. A significant association was found between a higher EDII score and general obesity (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.04–1.41, p trend: .016), however, there was no significant association between EDII and both definitions of abdominal obesity. Participants in the highest versus lowest tertile of LIS had higher odds of increased abdominal obesity (OR(WC): 37.0, 95% CI: 28.8–47.5, p trend <.001, OR(WHR): 3.30, 95% CI: 2.65–4.11, p trend <.001). In addition, there was also a direct relationship between the higher score of EDII‐LIS and the increased likelihood of abdominal obesity (OR(WC): 15.0, 95% CI: 12.3–18.3, p trend <.001, OR(WHR): 2.68, 95% CI: 2.18–3.29, p trend <.001). Greater adherence to the EDII score was associated with a higher odds of general obesity, but not abdominal obesity. Also, individuals with a higher score of LIS and EDII‐LIS are more prone to abdominal obesity.