Dietary glycemic index is associated with overweight and obesity in preschool children: a national cross-sectional study in Lebanon

Jul 2, 2025BMC pediatrics

Higher dietary glycemic index linked to overweight and obesity in preschool children in Lebanon

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Abstract

In a sample of 518 Lebanese preschoolers, 9.5% were found to be overweight or obese.

Average dietary (GI) was 56.1, while the average (GL) was 99.2, based on available carbohydrates.
A significant association was found between dietary GI and overweight/obesity, with a 10-unit increase in GI linked to an approximately three-fold increase in odds (odds ratio: 2.67).
A slight association was noted for dietary GL, with a 10-unit increase resulting in a small increase in odds of overweight/obesity (odds ratio: 1.05).
Similar associations were observed when dietary calculations were based on total carbohydrates.

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BACKGROUND: Although dietary (GI) and (GL) have been proposed to modulate overweight risk, evidence in preschoolers remains scarce and contentious, and lacking in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). This cross-sectional national survey investigated the association of dietary GI and GL with overweight/obesity in Lebanese preschoolers (n = 518; aged 2-5 years).

METHODS: The study is based on a national cross-sectional survey conducted in 2012/2013 "Early Life Nutrition and Health, ELNAHL". Sociodemographic data were obtained using a multi-component questionnaire, and anthropometric characteristics were measured. The 24 h recall approach was used to collect dietary data. The calculations of daily dietary GI and GL were based on available carbohydrates (and repeated using total carbohydrates). Three logistic regression models were performed to investigate the association of dietary GI and GL with overweight/obesity, per unit and per 10-unit increases.

RESULTS: In this study sample, 9.5% of the preschool children were found to be overweight/obese. Average dietary GI was determined at 56.1 ± 0.3 and dietary GL at 99.2 ± 1.8, when using available carbohydrates. The full regression model (model 3) which was adjusted for demographic/socioeconomic variables and energy and macronutrients' intakes, showed a significant association between dietary GI and overweight/obesity, per unit and per 10 units increases (odds ratio (OR): 1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-1.11 and OR: 2.67; 95% CI: 2.45-2.92, respectively), while only a slight association was observed for GL (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.01 and OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.07 for 1 unit and 10 units increases of GL, respectively). Similar results were obtained when using total carbohydrates for GI and GL calculations.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that each 10-unit increase in dietary GI was linked with approximately three-fold higher odds of overweight/obesity amongst Lebanese preschoolers, suggesting that dietary GI may be of public health significance in the epidemic of childhood overweight.

Key numbers

2.67

Increase in Odds of Overweight/Obesity

Odds ratio for a 10-unit increase in dietary .

49 of 518

Prevalence of Overweight/Obesity

Total number of overweight/obese children in the study sample.

56.1

Average Dietary

Mean value calculated from dietary assessments.

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Dietary glycemic index is associated with overweight and obesity in preschool children: a national cross-sectional study in Lebanon

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