The feasibility of analysing food consumption combinations from overweight and obese participants of weight loss clinical trials

Overweight and obesity is a global epidemic. Investigating food consumption combinations (FCCs) may offer useful insights into addressing eating behaviours to manage overweight and obesity. Using food intake data generated from a detailed dietary assessment method allows advanced analytical methods to be employed. Food intake data collected by a diet history interview appears to be more precise in terms of capturing the usual food intakes of individuals. Exploration of FCCs can be conducted using the Apriori algorithm, but this method is dependent on correct data preparation. Given the uncertainties related to collecting food intake data via diet history interviews, the aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of using food intake data derived from diet history interviews from three weight-loss clinical trials to investigate FCCs. A 10% random sample (n=62) of baseline paper-based diet history records, reflecting usual food intake by meal, from three registered clinical trials (n=617) were extracted. FCCs were assessed by considering the sum of single food items consumed at the same time or in the same occasion using the United States Department of Agriculture Food Combination Codes and the nested hierarchical food groups of the 2011-13 Australian Health Survey food classification system. FCCs were identified in all diet history data records at the major food group level. A proportion of FCCs for the dinner meal (n=13) were unable to be assessed at the specific food level due to limited detail for meat-containing FCCs. FCCs for the dinner meal created more challenges for accurately distinguishing and naming FCCs. Given the complexity of beverage reporting, combinations of foods and beverages were not revealed in the selected data set. In conclusion, despite a lack of meat-containing FCCs at dinner and food-beverage combinations, the food intake data collected using the diet history interview method can feasibly be used to investigate FCCs.