{
  "abstract": "BackgroundFew dietary screeners are available for use with Hispanic/Latino adults in clinical or research settings, despite this group having a disproportionate burden of diet-related chronic disease risk amenable to nutrition intervention and counseling. We previously developed the 36-item Penn Healthy Diet (PHD) screener, which correlates with the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), and adapted it culturally and linguistically for use among Hispanic/Latino adults as the Screener of Alimentary Behaviors and Eating (SABE).\n\nObjectiveWe aimed to develop a scoring algorithm for the SABE screener using data from Hispanic/Latino adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).\n\nMethodsWe used NHANES 2017-2018 dietary recall data from 1,126 Hispanic/Latino adults to simulate responses to SABE screener items. Using Spearman rank correlations, we examined the association between simulated SABE items and HEI-2020 components and validation using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)-2010. Items achieving |{rho}| [≥] 0.3 with any HEI-2020 component were retained in a simple scoring algorithm. A regression-weighted algorithm was then derived using ordinary least squares regression of all screener items on HEI-2020 total score. Reproducibility was evaluated in an independent validation sample of 1,633 Hispanic/Latino adults from NHANES cycle 2015-2016.\n\nResultsTwelve of 24 screener items were moderately or strongly associated with HEI-2020 components, forming a simple scoring algorithm with a range of 0-60 points. The simulated SABE score was strongly correlated with HEI-2020 ({rho} = 0.73-0.74) and moderately correlated with AHEI-2010 ({rho} = 0.64-0.67). The regression-weighted algorithm improved HEI-2020 correlations ({rho} = 0.80) but not for AHEI-2010 ({rho} = 0.62-0.65).\n\nConclusionsThe SABE screener is a brief and feasible dietary screener with demonstrated strong validity and reproducibility for assessing diet quality in Hispanic/Latino adults. Further validation of this screener is needed in Hispanic/Latinos subgroups of diverse heritage and acculturation level, and in real-world populations.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of Pennsylvania"
  ],
  "article_type": "PUBLISHAHEADOFPRINT",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "M. Pichardo"
    },
    {
      "name": "V. Shandar"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. Quinn"
    },
    {
      "name": "V. McReynolds"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. T. Creasy"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. D. Wu"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Compher"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e3rewwcy85myp.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.09.26362652",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.09.26362652v1.full",
  "id": "e3rewwcy85myp",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.09.26362652v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "medrxiv",
      "nutrition"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2739|Nutritional Studies and Diet"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7212388712",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.09.26362652v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-09",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e3rewwcy85myp.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:23Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.09.26362652",
      "source": "medrxiv",
      "url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.09.26362652v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "medrxiv:nutrition",
      "subfield": "nutrition"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Development and Scoring of a Diet Quality Screener for Hispanic/Latino Adults Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data: The SABE Lo Que Come? Tool",
  "title_text": "Development and Scoring of a Diet Quality Screener for Hispanic/Latino Adults Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data: The SABE Lo Que Come? Tool",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:23Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e3rewwcy85myp",
  "venue": "medRxiv",
  "versions": []
}