Dietary Patterns Independent of Fast Food Are Associated with Obesity among Korean Adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2014

Few studies have examined the multifaceted aspects of fast food consumption and dietary patterns for their effects on obesity. We examined the independent associations of obesity with fast food consumption and dietary pattern in Korean adults using a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. A total of 19,017 adults aged 19-64 years participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010-2014. Fast food items were removed from diet and then dietary patterns were generated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the odds of overweight/obesity and central obesity according to fast food consumption and dietary patterns. Fast food consumers were about 10% of Korean adults. Both the "White rice and kimchi" pattern and "Meat and alcohol" pattern were associated with low intakes of fiber, calcium, vitamin C, grains, fruit, and milk (p < 0.05). Fast food consumers had higher "Meat and alcohol" and "Grains, fruit, and milk" patterns, and they had a lower "White rice and kimchi" pattern than non-fast food-consumers. Fast food consumers were not associated with overweight/obesity, whereas participants with the "Meat and alcohol" pattern had 14% higher overweight/obesity (95% CI: 1.01, 1.28) and 16% higher central obesity (95% CI: 1.00, 1.34). Fast food consumption was not directly associated with obesity, whereas the "Meat and alcohol" pattern had independent associations with overweight/obesity and central obesity among Korean adults.