Dietary Patterns Among Canadian Caucasians and Their Association With Chronic Conditions

ABSTRACT Background Understanding the dietary patterns of populations is crucial in addressing chronic health conditions that are influenced by diet and lifestyle. We aimed to identify the dietary patterns among adult Caucasian Canadians and examine their associations with socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors and chronic health conditions. Methodology We used two comprehensive national nutrition surveys: Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)2015 and CCHS Cycle 2.2 Nutrition 2004, which encompass sociodemographic and socioeconomic profiles, nutrient‐rich food diet quality scores and prevalence of chronic conditions. Through cluster analysis, dietary patterns were identified among Caucasians and further analysed with stratification by age/sex groups. Results Our analysis of dietary patterns among Caucasian adults showed a transition from “High‐Fibre” and “Mixed” patterns in 2004 to “Unhealthy,” “Healthy‐like” and “Potato, Beef and Vegetables” in 2015. In 2004, the “Mixed” pattern was prevalent, but by 2015, a shift towards the “Unhealthy” pattern was notable, with a significant portion of the population, 18.8%, reporting chronic diseases and 19.6% being classified as obese. The “Healthy‐like” pattern in 2015 saw lower rates of chronic diseases (6.8%) and obesity (6.1%). Gender‐specific patterns showed women favoring healthier options like “Healthy‐like” in 2015. The prevalence of chronic diseases and obesity varied significantly with dietary patterns. The “High‐Fibre” pattern in 2004 showed lower prevalence rates of chronic diseases (6.6%) and obesity (5.8%) compared to the “Unhealthy” pattern in 2015. Conclusions The findings highlight the impact of dietary choices on health outcomes over time, underscoring the importance of promoting healthier eating habits to mitigate the risk of chronic diseases and obesity.