The "diet model" and metabolic syndrome components: Results from the Cordoba Health and Dietary Habits Investigation.

Objectives: Diet, one of the main risk factors for both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), is a multidimensional feature whose complexity relies on the individual and contextual characteristics of foods. The aim of this study was to build a "diet model" and estimate its relationship with MetS components in two Argentinian populations.

Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study that assessed bio-socio-anthropometrical variables and dietary habits using food frequency questionnaires.