Trajectories of adherence to an obesogenic dietary pattern and changes in diet quality, food intake, and adiposity during adolescence

In this Spanish longitudinal cohort study (n = 600), researchers followed adolescents from age 12 to 16 to identify trajectories of adherence to an obesogenic dietary pattern (energy-dense, high-fat, low-fiber). Four stable trajectory groups were identified. Adolescents with the highest adherence showed the poorest dietary quality and the most unfavorable adiposity outcomes, including increased central obesity. In contrast, those with low adherence improved diet quality over time. This research highlights the long-term consequences of poor dietary habits formed in early adolescence.

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