The sex differences of unhealthy food consumption and its association with metabolic profiles among Indonesian adults

Unhealthy food consumption is a major contributor to cardiometabolic diseases and related mortality. Sex differences are an essential determinant of individual variability in dietary responses. This research aimed to analyze unhealthy food consumption and metabolic profiles, and whether sex differences modify this relationship. This study employed a cross-sectional study which included men (N = 5151) and women (N = 9488) aged 19–65 years. Eight unhealthy food groups were analyzed using a validated questionnaire and food card. Adiposity, glucose, lipid, and blood pressure were measured for metabolic profiles data. Multivariable linear regression was utilized to assess the relationships and interactions among variables, while controlling for potential confounding factors. Women demonstrated significantly higher rates of central obesity (65.0%), MetS (51.6%), and low HDL cholesterol (69.2%), whereas men exhibited higher rates of prediabetes (37.2%), hypertriglyceridemia (46.6%), and higher levels of HbA1c (6.1 ± 1.3%). After correction for multiple testing using the Bonferroni correction, frequent consumption of high-fat foods was associated with elevated BMI, TG, and LDL, particularly in women and both groups of HDL. MSG and consumption of salty foods were associated with adverse lipid profiles (LDL) in women. Frequent consumption of sweet food was associated with an increase in SBP and DBP in women. Sufficient intake of fruits and vegetables was associated with a lower BMI, with differing interactions across sexes. Unhealthy food consumption is significantly associated with adverse metabolic syndromes, and these associations differed by sex. Women showed stronger associations between frequent intake of sweet, high-fat, salty, and MSG foods and adverse metabolic profiles.