Mediating Effects of Diet Quality between Meal Frequency and Cardiometabolic Risk among Korean Adults: Data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES)

Purpose : The 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee specifically noted that meal frequency is associated with risks for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality, although the current evidence on meal frequency is conflicting. As meal frequency itself is affected by various factors, the aim of the study was not only to examine its relationships with cardiometabolic risk but also to identify the mediating effects of dietary quality.Methods : This study used a descriptive correlational design. In all 8,141 healthy adults participated in the study. Measurements included meal frequency, cardiometabolic risk, and diet quality. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis, and process macro bootstrapping model 4.Results : The meal frequency was 3.52±0.61 times per day, the risk of cardiovascular metabolic diseases was 0.01±0.61 points, and the diet quality was 62.08±13.87 points. In mediation analysis, the effect of meal frequency on cardiometabolic risk score was completely mediated by diet quality.Conclusion : Improved diet quality in healthy adults should be considered when designing meal frequency interventions aimed at reducing their cardiometabolic risk, as the effect of meal frequency support on cardiometabolic risk was found to be mediated by diet quality.