en Nutrition Nutrition پژوهشي Research <p><strong>Background and Objectives: </strong>To provide efficient recommendation for the prevention of childhood obesity and eating disorders, it is necessary to understand and explore their dietary patterns (DPs). The main aim of the current study was to explore dietary patterns among primary school aged children and determine the relationship between different dietary patterns and&nbsp; factors including anthropometric measurements, family size, school performance, weekly consumption of breakfast and physical activity.<br> <strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>Male and female primary school children aged 7-11 (n= 761) were recruited in a cross-sectional study from all districts of Tehran(2003-2004). The students and their caregivers (mainly their mothers) were interviewed to complete a 24 h recall. Dietary patterns were explored by exploratory factor analysis of the 23 food groups.<br> <strong>Results: </strong>Three major DPs were identified: healthy, transitional and western. The tendency of children towards western diet increased with their age (P<0.001). In larger families, the tendency towards healthy DP was lower (P<0.001). Class performance score of the children was positively correlated to healthy DP (P=0.009). Frequency of weekly consumption of breakfast was negatively correlated to western DP (P<0.001). BMI was positively associated with healthy and western&nbsp; DPs.<br> <strong>Conclusions: </strong>Effective interventions for adapting older children and larger families to healthy eating is urged..For better judgment about correlation of DPs and adiposity more studies are recommended.</p> Dietary patterns, Pediatric, Adiposity, School 1 8 http://nfsr.sbmu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-259-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Maryam Amini 10031947532846003129 10031947532846003129 No Department of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Monireh Dadkhah Piraghaj 10031947532846003130 10031947532846003130 No Department of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Maryam Khosravi KhosraviM@mums.ac.ir 10031947532846003131 10031947532846003131 No Department of Nutrition, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad & Department of Public Health, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd Neda Lotfollahi 10031947532846003132 10031947532846003132 Yes Department of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences