Association between Dietary Patterns and Handgrip Strength: Analysis of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data Between 2014 and 2017

• Main Authors: Yunkoo Kang, Jieun Kim, Do-Yeon Kim, Seung Kim, Sowon Park, Hyunjung Lim, Hong Koh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: diet; handgrip strength; nutrition; dietary pattern; children and adolescents; KNHANES
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/10/3048

Non-invasive anthropometric measurement methods such as those for measuring height and weight are crucial in pediatric patients. However, research focusing on the association between the type of dietary pattern and handgrip strength and handgrip-to-weight ratio in adolescents has not been carried out yet. This cross-sectional analysis of the 2014–2017 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey assessed 2327 adolescents (aged 10–18 years) who had their handgrip strength measured and analyzed its association with dietary pattern. The clusters were examined for nutritional values, and the <i>ready-to-eat</i>, <i>balanced,</i> and <i>Western-style fast-food</i> clusters were ultimately generated. Overall, 85.6% of the participants were assigned to a <i>ready-to-eat</i> dietary pattern, 9.3% to a <i>Western-style fast-food</i> dietary pattern, and 5.1% to a <i>balanced</i> dietary pattern. Compared with the participants following a <i>balanced</i> dietary pattern, those following a <i>ready-to-eat</i> dietary pattern were shown to have a significantly lower handgrip strength and handgrip-to-weight ratio. Decreased handgrip strength and handgrip-to-weight ratio values in participants following <i>ready-to-eat</i> dietary patterns indicate a diffuse problem in adolescents’ health and possibly imply an association between reduced muscle quality and dietary pattern. Therefore, the overall environmental factors potentially inducing such unhealthy dietary preferences should be investigated, and appropriate lifestyle changes in Korean adolescents should be encouraged.