Association between plant-based diets and metabolic health status in adolescents with overweight and obesity

The association of plant-based diets with health status is underestimated in pediatrics. We aimed to examine the relation between plant-based diets (including overall plant-based index (PDI), healthy plant-based (hPDI) and unhealthy plant-based (uPDI)) and metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight/obesity. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 203 adolescents with overweight/obesity (12–18 years old) selected by a multistage cluster random-sampling method. Usual dietary intakes were assessed through a validated 147-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Anthropometric indices and blood pressure values were measured and fasting blood samples were drawn. For classification of participants into metabolically healthy obese (MHO) or metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) groups, two methods of International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and combination of IDF with Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were applied. No significant association was observed between higher adherence to PDI and odds of MUO status defined by both IDF and IDF/HOMA-IR strategies. After adjustments for all potential confounders, adolescents in the highest tertile of hPDI, compared with those in the lowest tertile, had 85% (95% CI 0.05–0.43) and 84% (95% CI 0.05, 0.52) lower odds of being MUO based on IDF and IDF/HOMA-IR criteria, respectively. Greater adherence to uPDI was associated with odd of 3.95 (95% CI 1.41, 11.12) and 4.06 (95% CI 1.31, 12.57) of being MUO based on IDF and IDF/HOMA-IR definitions, after considering all potential confounders. Stratified analysis revealed that these associations were stronger in girls and overweight subjects. Adherence to healthy plant-based foods was inversely associated with odds of MUO status in Iranian adolescents. In contrast, unhealthy plant-based diets was directly associated with MUO in pediatrics. Further studies with prospective nature, are required to affirm these results.