Food insecurity and malnutrition in vulnerable households with children under 5 years on the Ecuadorian coast: a post-earthquake analysis.

INTRODUCTION: A household's nutritional status and food security can be affected after a natural disaster, especially in families who live in risk situations. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of food insecurity, inadequate dietary diversity and poor nutritional status of mothers and children under 5 years old from vulnerable families residing in the rural community of La Punta, after the earthquake in Ecuador on 16 April 2016. METHODS: Through a non-probabilistic sampling, 28 families were selected. The levels of food insecurity in households were determined by applying a food safety scale and household dietary diversity score. Moreover, Z-scores were used to evaluate the nutritional status of children, while body mass index was used in mothers. RESULTS: All households suffered food insecurity, with mild food insecurity being the most prevalent (51.9%), followed by severe food insecurity (33.3%). Although all households had high diversity scores, the products they most consumed have low nutritional value, such as rice, soft drinks and oils. There was a low consumption of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Additionally, there was a high percentage of overweight and obese mothers (57.1%) and a high prevalence of chronic undernutrition (40.9%) and global undernutrition (13.6%) in children under 5 years old. CONCLUSION: The predominance of severe food insecurity occurred in overweight and obese mothers with inadequate dietary diversity. This probably happened because of a lack of access to food to adequately meet the nutritional needs of each member of the family. The results suggest that health promotion with actions aimed at food security is a priority within an integral action plan for natural disasters.

Intake and food sources of sodium in the population residing in urban areas of Ecuador: results from ELANS study.

BACKGROUND: In 2021, WHO notes that globally, 32% of annual deaths worldwide are due to cardiovascular causes, which have been attributed to excessive sodium intake, and therefore recommends a reduction in salt intake to less than 5 g/day. Ecuador does not have data on sodium consumption in the population. Hence, this study sought to determine the association between sodium consumption and sociodemographic variables in subjects living in urban areas of Ecuador. OBJECTIVES: Determine the main dietary sources of sodium in subjects living in urban areas of the Coast and Highlands of Ecuador, and the association between sodium intake and sociodemographic variables such as: sex, region, marital status, socio-economic and educational level of this population. METHODS: Sodium intake was studied in 800 subjects of both sexes aged 15 to 65 years living in urban areas in Ecuador, originating from the Latin American Nutrition and Health Study (ELANS) between 2014 and 2015. Data were obtained through two 24-hour recalls, and were accessed according to sex, region, age, marital status, socio-economic and educational levels. RESULTS: The mean sodium intake was 4900 mg/day (SD ± 1188.32 mg/day), and both sexes exceeded the recommendations. Adjusting for energy intake, sodium consumption is higher in participants aged 50-65 years, from low socio-economic status and with basic education level. A positive relationship was found between sodium and energy intake. Around 48% of the sodium sources included the spices, condiments and herbs group. Within this group, salt itself constitutes 99% of sodium sources. CONCLUSIONS: The Ecuadorian population consumes more than double the sodium recommendations, which vary according to gender and age. The first source of sodium is salt itself, which is part of spices and condiments food group. This data is important to formulate public health policies and interventions in Ecuador, especially in the population at risk.

Changes in the Lifestyle of the Spanish University Population during Confinement for COVID-19.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on eating and physical activity behavior, in a university population. A healthy diet such as the Mediterranean Diet (MD) pattern, rich in fruit and vegetables, can prevent degenerative diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc. We conducted a cross-sectional study and data were collected by an anonymous online questionnaire. Participants completed a survey consisting of 3 sections: sociodemographic data; dietary behavior and physical activity; the Mediterranean Diet questionnaire (MEDAS-14) and the Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ). A total of 168 participants completed the questionnaire: 66.7% were women, 79.2% were from Spain, 76.8% were students, 76.2% lived in their family home and 66.1% were of normal weight. During lockdown our population shopped for groceries 1 time or less per week (76.8%); maintained the same consumption of fruits (45.2%), vegetables (50.6%), dairy products (61.9%), pulses (64.9%), fish/seafood (57.7%), white meat (77.4%), red and processed meat (71.4%), pastries and snacks (48.2%), rice/pasta/potatoes (70.2%) and nuts (62.5%), spirits (98.8%) and sugary drinks (91.7%). Cooking time increased (73.2%) and the consumption decreased of low alcohol drinks (60.1%), spirits (75%) and sugary drinks (57.1%), and physical activity also diminished (49.4%). University Employees (UE) gained more weight (1.01 ± 0.02) than students (0.99 ± 0.03) (p < 0.05) during the confinement period. A total of 79.8% of the participants obtained a Medium/High Adherence to the MD during lockdown. Emotional and very emotional eaters were higher in the female group (p < 0.01). In the event of further confinement, strategies should be implemented to promote a balanced and healthy diet together with the practice of physical activity, taking special care of the female and UE groups.

Transient Hyperphosphatasemia Due to Pomegranate Juice.

In most cases, feeding problems in young children are mild and of no consequence. However, it is one of the situations that generate more anxiety in parents and can lead them to incorrect feeding patterns. We present the case of a 20-month-old male child who came to the emergency room with a pathological elevation of alkaline phosphatase secondary to an error in his dietary pattern.

Association between built environment and physical activity in Latin American countries: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between the physical activity level and the built environment by accessibility, microinfrastructure and security in Latin America (LA). DESIGN: We conducted a multicentre cross-sectional study to collect physical activity and built environment data. The levels of physical activity were calculated through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire survey. Using the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale-Abbreviated, characteristics of the built environment were measured through three domains: accessibility, microinfrastructure and security. To estimate the association of the built environment and physical activity, we used mixed effects logistic regression analysis. In addition, likelihood ratio test to account for clustered effect within countries and/or cities was used. SETTING: Eight countries in LA. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 15-65 years (n=9218) living in urban areas and consented to participate of the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health. RESULTS: Most of the population in LA had access to a grocery store (97.2%), public transport stop (91.5%) and children's playground (81.6%). Metropolitan parks were more accessible in Ecuador (59.8%) and Colombia (59.2%) than in Venezuela (33.5%). Individuals located within 20 min of walking from sport facilities or children's playground areas were more likely to perform moderate-to-high physical activity OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.36) and OR 1.25 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.53), respectively. Only 14.5% of the population from the region considered that their neighbourhood had an adequate design for walking or cycling. Likewise, among adults living in LA, only 39.75% had the perception of living in a safe neighbourhood. CONCLUSIONS: This multicentre study shows that currently, LA built environment does not promote physical activity in the region. Our findings provide the rationale to push forward, at regional and national levels, policies and interventions that will help to achieve a safe, healthy and friendly built environment to encourage participation in active recreation and sports in leisure time. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02226627.

Análisis sensorial de bebidas extrudidas por niños preescolares de escasos recursos económicos en tres regiones del Ecuador y su relación con el estado nutricional / Sensory analysis of beverages extruded by preschool children of scarce economic resources in three regions of Ecuador and its relationship with nutritional status

Introducción: El análisis sensorial relacionado con el estado nutricional conlleva a una nueva visión en el desarrollo de alimentos para poblaciones infantiles con deficiencias nutricionales. Objetivo: Evaluar el nivel de agrado de cuatro prototipos de coladas empleando dos escalas hedónicas, analizando el estado nutricional de los niños en tres provincias del Ecuador. Método: Los niños evaluaron el agrado/desagrado de las coladas, identificadas por M, S, N y F, empleando dos escalas; a los infantes se les tomó peso/talla. Se empleó un diseño cuadrados latinos mutuamente ortogonales. Los datos hedónicos fueron analizados por ANOVA bifactorial (α=0.05) y los antropométricos según indicadores de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Resultados: Los 121 infantes de los quintiles uno y dos de pobreza (2 a 5 años; 50 F y 42 M) refirieron que les gustaron más las coladas M, S, N, a diferencia de la F, en ambas escalas. El 26.5% de los niños tuvo desnutrición crónica. La segmentación atendiendo al estado nutricional presentó el mismo comportamiento hedónico. Los familiares (65.5%) calificaron la alimentación de su hijo como buena o muy buena. Conclusión: La malnutrición crónica de los niños, no es percibida por sus padres, a pesar que en la evaluación (talla/edad) un 26.5% se encuentra con desnutrición crónica. Las coladas M, S, N tuvieron mayor agrado, siendo la F la que menos gustó consistentemente en las dos escalas. Los niños, aún en los quintiles uno y dos de pobreza, son capaces de evaluar productos alimenticios empleando ambas escalas hedónicas, a pesar de su condición de salud.

Introduction: Sensory Analysis Related to Nutritional Status Contains a a new vision for the development of food for children with disabilities nutritional. Objective: To evaluate the level of enjoyment of four glue prototypes by hedonic scales, analyzing the nutritional status of children in three provinces of the Ecuador. Method: The children evaluate the pleasure / dislike of the glues, identified by M, S, N and F, emplifying from the scales; to infants if they take weight / talla. It became flat a design of mutually orthogonal Latin squares. The hedonic data fueron analyzed by bifactorial ANOVA (α = 0.05) and anthropometric according to indicators of the World Health Organization. Results: The 121 infants of the quintiles and poverty (2 to 5 years; 50 F y 42 M) mention that the gustaron but the glued M, S, N, the difference from the F on both scales. The 26.5% of children have chronic malnutrition. The segmentation meeting the nutritional status of my hedonic behavior. Los family members (65.5%) calified their food as good or very good. Conclusion: The chronic malnutrition of children, is not perceived by their priests, although in the assessment (tall / city) a 26.5% is due to malnutrition chronicle. Las coladas M, S, N tuvieron mayor, if I like it less consistently on the scales. The kids, in the quintiles and one of poverty, are able to evaluate food products by emplacing both scales hedonic, despite their health condition.