(P32-16-26) Rapid Food Quality Screener Is Inversely Associated With Metabolic Syndrome in Adults

Objectives: The Food Quality Screener (FQS) is a brief self-report instrument designed to rapidly assess overall diet quality. Previous research has confirmed the content validity and patient acceptability of the FQS. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between FQS scores and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adults.

Methods: This secondary analysis utilized data from multiple studies that assessed nutrition and public health research topics. Procedures in all studies included measurement of body mass index (BMI, kg/m²; InBody), waist circumference (cm), and blood pressure (mmHg; Omron automatic oscillatory cuff); blood sample collection (venipuncture); and completion of paper or online questionnaires (FQS [range: 0-22] and demographics). Triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and fasting glucose were measured from whole blood (Piccolo Xpress). MetS was defined as ≥3/5 positive criteria per NCEP ATP III guidelines. The association of FQS scores with MetS (yes/no) was analyzed with logistic regression adjusted for sex and age.

Results: Participants (N=159, 69.8% female) were 32.4 ± 15.7 years old (range: 18-81) with a mean BMI in the overweight range (M_BMI = 27.3 ± 7.0 kg/m², range: 18.6-52.1 kg/m²). The mean FQS score (12.3 ± 3.5) was consistent with a “fair” diet quality, and participants had 1.1 ± 1.2 positive MetS criteria on average. Over half of participants (58.5%) had at least one positive MetS criterion. After adjusting for covariates, higher FQS scores were associated with a reduced likelihood of having MetS (OR = 0.86, 95% CI [0.75, 0.99], p = .032).

Conclusions: The FQS is a brief diet quality screener associated with clinically relevant indicators of cardiometabolic health risk (i.e., MetS). These findings support the FQS as a practical screening tool for rapidly assessing diet quality in clinical and public health settings, and for identifying individuals who may benefit from targeted nutritional counseling or preventive lifestyle interventions.

Funding Sources: Ball State University Faculty Startup Funds