Table 5.

Relationships between dietary GHGE per 1000 kcal and dietary quality indices (HEI-2010 and MDS) in the study population: students of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), EHU12/24 study

Dietary quality index	Unadjusted models*			Models controlling for demographic and socio-economic variables†			Models controlling for demographic, socio-economic variables and BF status‡
	Coef	se §	P	Coef	se §	P	Coef	se §	P
HEI-2010 51–80 points||	0·039	0·001	***	0·039	0·001	***	0·039	0·001	***
MDS 0–34 points¶	−0·025	0·001	***	−0·024	0·001	***	−0·023	0·001	***

GHGE, greenhouse gas emissions; HEI, Healthy Eating Index; BF, body fat; MDS, MedDietScore.

^*The dependent variable in all models is GHGE (kg eCO₂/1000 kcal/d). Each row represents a separate set of models. For unadjusted models, the dietary GHGE is regressed solely on the corresponding dietary quality index.

^†Models controlling for demographic and socio-economic variables including sex, parental educational level and crowding index (CRI).

^‡The final model set included these variables plus BF status.

^§Coef is the β coefficient in each of these models and represents the mean difference in dietary GHGE (kg eCO₂/1000 kcal/d) between those with HEI or MDS scores below adequate and those with adequate scores. For example, in the unadjusted model, individuals who needed to improve their dietary quality according to the HEI had a mean dietary GHGE that was lower than those who followed a healthy diet according to the HEI by 0·039 kg eCO₂/1000 kcal/d.

^||Needs improvement (no participant scored less than 51).

^¶Low adherence.

^*** P < 0·001.