Changes in the Global Diet Quality Score, Weight, and Waist Circumference in Mexican Women

Background Evidence on concurrent changes in overall diet quality and weight and waist circumference in women of reproductive age from low- and middle-income countries is limited. Objectives We examined the associations of changes in the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) and each GDQS food group with concurrent weight and waist circumference change in Mexican women. Methods We followed prospectively 8967 nonpregnant nonlactating women aged 25–49 y in the Mexican Teachers’ Cohort between 2006 and 2008. We assessed diet using an FFQ of the previous year and anthropometric measures were self-reported. Regression models were used to examine 2-y changes in the GDQS and each food group (servings/d) with weight and waist circumference changes within the same period, adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors. Results Compared with those with little change in the GDQS (−2 to 2 points), women with the largest increase in the GDQS (>5 points) had less weight (β: −0.81 kg/2 y; 95% CI: −1.11, −0.51 kg/2 y) and waist circumference gain (β: −1.05 cm/2 y; 95% CI: −1.62, −0.48 cm/2 y); likewise, women with the largest decrease in the GDQS (