The EAT-Lancet Diet Index Is Associated with Lower Obesity and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in the Multiethnic Cohort

Abstract

Background

The EAT-Lancet Commission has developed dietary recommendations, named the EAT-Lancet diet, to promote healthy nutrition and sustainable food production worldwide.

Objectives

We developed an adapted score for the EAT-Lancet diet for participants of the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) Study and its relation with incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

The MEC includes 5 ethnic groups followed since 1993–1996. Anthropometric characteristics and dietary intake were assessed by questionnaire at cohort entry (Qx1) and 10 y later (Qx3). To create the EAT-Lancet index (range: 0–48 points), a 3-point scoring system for 16 food groups standardized to 2500 kcal/d was applied. T2D cases were identified through repeated self-reports and administrative data. In a prospective design, obesity at Qx3 and T2D incidence were evaluated using Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) while adjusting for relevant covariates.

Results

Among 193,379 MEC participants, the overall mean of the EAT-Lancet index score was 25 ± 4 points and 46,140 new T2D cases were identified. Higher adjusted means were observed in females than males, in participants of Japanese American and Native Hawaiian ancestry, and in those with healthy weight than overweight or obese. Obesity was lower in cohort members with higher EAT-Lancet scores (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.79 for tertile 3 compared with 1). Although T2D incidence was 10% lower among participants in the highest (27–42 points) compared with the lowest (9–23 points) EAT-Lancet index tertile (HR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.92), the association was attenuated after BMI adjustment (HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.94, 0.99). This inverse association with T2D was restricted to African American and European American participants.

Conclusions

These findings support the hypothesis that adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet is related to a lower risk of obesity, which may be partially responsible for the small reduction in T2D incidence.