Clinical trial NCT06654674: Gender Differences in Dietary Patterns and Physical Activity: A PCA Approach
Official title: Gender Differences in Dietary Patterns and Physical Activity: An Insight With Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Diet Surveys
Food Preferences
Keywords: Gender Differences
Dietary Patterns
Physical Activity
Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
Body Composition
Metabolic Health
Lead sponsor: San Raffaele Telematic University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2024-10-23
Enrollment: 2509
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: The study population consists of 2,509 adults attending a metabolic health center in Rome, Italy. These participants were recruited between May 2023 and June 2024. The sample includes both men and women, with a focus on identifying gender-specific patterns in dietary behaviors, physical activity, and body composition. Participants underwent bioimpedance analysis and completed questionnaires regarding their eating habits and physical activity levels.

Brief summary: This study investigates gender differences in dietary patterns and physical activity using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). It aims to identify distinct eating and activity behaviors between men and women in order to develop gender-specific interventions that promote better metabolic health. The study was conducted at a metabolic health center in Rome, Italy, with 2,509 participants. Data were collected through questionnaires and body composition assessments, and PCA was applied to classify participants into groups based on their behaviors.

Detailed description: The study was designed as a cross-sectional analysis of gender differences in dietary patterns and physical activity, utilizing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify distinct behavioral groups. A total of 2,509 participants were recruited from a metabolic health center in Rome, Italy, between May 2023 and June 2024. The study collected detailed data on eating habits, physical activity, and body composition through questionnaires and bioimpedance analysis. Five distinct behavioral groups were identified through PCA, with significant differences in dietary patterns and physical activity levels between men and women. Men were found to consume more meat and participate in strength training, while women favored vegetable-rich diets and had more structured eating routines. These differences also translated into body composition, with men having more lean mass and women more fat mass.

The study highlights the importance of gender-specific interventions in nutrition and physical activity to improve metabolic health outcomes. The results suggest that men could benefit from increased vegetable consumption, while women could benefit from engaging in more physical activity, particularly strength training. Future research should explore these patterns longitudinally to better understand how these behaviors evolve over time and to develop more tailored interventions.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults aged 18 years or older.
* Participants attending the metabolic health center in Rome, Italy.
* Participants who provided informed consent.
* Participants with complete data on dietary patterns, physical activity, and body composition.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Individuals under 18 years of age.
* Participants with diagnosed psychiatric disorders.
* Pregnant women.
* Participants with incomplete or inconsistent data.
* Individuals with alcohol dependence.
* Participants with significant medical conditions that could affect dietary or physical activity assessments (e.g., severe chronic illnesses).

Primary outcomes:
measure: Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
timeFrame: Cross-sectional assessment at baseline
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Physical activity levels based on gender differences
timeFrame: Cross-sectional assessment at baseline
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Roma
country: Italy
facility: San Raffaele Open University
Study officials:
affiliation: IRCCS San Raffaele Roma
name: Massimiliano Caprio, MD, PhD
role: STUDY_CHAIR
References:
citation: Alosaimi N, Sherar LB, Griffiths P, Pearson N. Clustering of diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour and related physical and mental health outcomes: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2023 Aug 18;23(1):1572. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16372-6.