Dietary inflammatory index and body weight gain in adults: an analysis of the NutriNet-Brasil study
1
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
2
Centre for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
3
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) estimates the inflammatory potential of the diet and may be associated with body weight gain; however, this relationship remains poorly investigated in Brazilian populations. Thus, this study aims to describe the distribution of the DII and the frequency of ≥5% and ≥10% body weight gain according to DII tertiles in participants of the NutriNet-Brasil study.
METHODS:
This study included 24,433 adults who completed two 24-hour dietary recalls at 6-month intervals at baseline, had weight and height data at baseline (within the first 12 months) and at follow-up (up to the 68th month), and were not pregnant during the study period. The DII was calculated using 39 dietary parameters and categorised into tertiles. Weight gain was defined as a self-reported follow-up weight ≥5% or ≥10% higher than baseline weight. Proportions of weight gain were estimated for each tertile, and linear trends were assessed using Cuzick’s test. All analyses were performed using Stata 14.0.
RESULTS:
Mean DII values across tertiles were -1.61 (95% CI: -1.64 to -1.58), 1.60 (95% CI: 1.59-1.62), and 4.45 (95% CI: 4.42-4.47). A total of 10,412 (42.61%) participants experienced ≥5% weight gain, and 4,615 (18.89%) experienced ≥10% weight gain. The prevalence of ≥5% weight gain increased across tertiles: 39.99% (95% CI: 38.92-41.06), 42.98% (95% CI: 41.90-44.06), and 44.88% (95% CI: 43.80-45.97), with a significant linear trend (p < 0.001). A similar pattern was observed for ≥10% weight gain: 17.00% (95% CI: 16.19-17.84), 19.11% (95% CI: 18.26-19.98), and 20.56% (95% CI: 19.68-21.45) across increasing tertiles (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
Increasing DII values were associated with higher frequencies of ≥5% and ≥10% weight gain, suggesting that diets with greater inflammatory potential may contribute to weight gain.
The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) estimates the inflammatory potential of the diet and may be associated with body weight gain; however, this relationship remains poorly investigated in Brazilian populations. Thus, this study aims to describe the distribution of the DII and the frequency of ≥5% and ≥10% body weight gain according to DII tertiles in participants of the NutriNet-Brasil study.
METHODS:
This study included 24,433 adults who completed two 24-hour dietary recalls at 6-month intervals at baseline, had weight and height data at baseline (within the first 12 months) and at follow-up (up to the 68th month), and were not pregnant during the study period. The DII was calculated using 39 dietary parameters and categorised into tertiles. Weight gain was defined as a self-reported follow-up weight ≥5% or ≥10% higher than baseline weight. Proportions of weight gain were estimated for each tertile, and linear trends were assessed using Cuzick’s test. All analyses were performed using Stata 14.0.
RESULTS:
Mean DII values across tertiles were -1.61 (95% CI: -1.64 to -1.58), 1.60 (95% CI: 1.59-1.62), and 4.45 (95% CI: 4.42-4.47). A total of 10,412 (42.61%) participants experienced ≥5% weight gain, and 4,615 (18.89%) experienced ≥10% weight gain. The prevalence of ≥5% weight gain increased across tertiles: 39.99% (95% CI: 38.92-41.06), 42.98% (95% CI: 41.90-44.06), and 44.88% (95% CI: 43.80-45.97), with a significant linear trend (p < 0.001). A similar pattern was observed for ≥10% weight gain: 17.00% (95% CI: 16.19-17.84), 19.11% (95% CI: 18.26-19.98), and 20.56% (95% CI: 19.68-21.45) across increasing tertiles (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
Increasing DII values were associated with higher frequencies of ≥5% and ≥10% weight gain, suggesting that diets with greater inflammatory potential may contribute to weight gain.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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