Development and Assessment of a Comprehensive Diet and Lifestyle Quality Index in an Argentinian Adult Population

We developed a comprehensive Diet and Lifestyle Quality Index (DLQI) and examined its associations with health status and sociodemographic characteristics in Argentinian adults. The DLQI scores range from 0 to 100 points and comprises 49 indicators across 7 dimensions: diet and eating habits, physical activity, rest and sleeping habits, exposure to sunlight and nature, religiosity, abstinence from tobacco and alcohol, and emotional well-being and relationships. Cross-sectional data from 4215 adults were analyzed to explore links with sociodemographic characteristics and chronic disease prevalence. Participants' mean age was 35.5±14.6 years and 69% were women. The mean DLQI score was 51.5±10.6. Higher scores were associated with older age, being married, lower financial concern, rural residence, and receipt of social welfare. Elevated DLQI and dimension-specific scores were inversely related to self-reported obesity, diabetes, fatty liver, hypertension, kidney disease, and cancer, while lower scores were positively associated with overweight and obesity. Score distribution and odds ratios supported cut-off points for classifying lifestyle quality. Our evaluation indicates the DLQI is a practical tool for assessing diverse diet and lifestyle factors, with scores reflecting health status in line with existing evidence. Further evaluation in other populations is recommended to confirm its clinical and public health applicability.