The water footprint and nutritional implications of diet change in Mexico: a principal component analysis.

PURPOSE: Nutrition transition (NT) has modified the way that the Mexican population eats, while their body composition has also been modified. These changes have been linked with environmental impacts; however, little is known regarding water footprint (WF). The objective of this paper was to analyze the NT process in Mexico and evaluate its impact on WF using principal component analysis (PCA). METHODS: A validated Food Consumption Frequency Questionnaire (FCFQ) was modified and applied to 400 adults from the Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara, Mexico. The WF was calculated according to the WF Assessment Method. PCA and tertiles analysis was carried out to define dietary patterns WFs (DPWF). Questions covering sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, as well as body composition data and physical activity levels were measured. RESULTS: The average DPWF was 6619.58 ± 3182.62 L per person per day (L p-1d-1). We found three DPWF by PCA: Medium NT (55% from the total sample), Healthy plant-based (28%), and High in animal protein (17%). The highest energy consumption, western and Mexican foods intake, and dietary WF were found in Medium NT DPWF, as well as obesity prevalence. Fruits and vegetable consumption was higher in Healthy plant-based DPWF. Muscle mass percentage was higher in the High in animal protein DPWF. CONCLUSIONS: Although most of the population is currently on Medium NT, new dietary patterns have emerged, where there was found a trend to plant-based diets but also diets high in animal food sources that can influence nutritional status.

Eat Well to Fight Obesity and Save Water: The Water Footprint of Different Diets and Caloric Intake and Its Relationship With Adiposity.

Water scarcity and excess adiposity are two of the main problems worldwide and in Mexico, which is the most obese country in the world and suffers from water scarcity. Food production represents 90% of a person's water footprint (WF), and healthy diets can lead to less WF than do unhealthy diets related to obesity. We calculated the WF of the diet and caloric intake of adults in Mexico and analyzed its relationship with adiposity. Also, the risk of water expenditure due to adiposity and adherence to dietary recommendations regarding WF of international healthy diets were examined. A Food Consumption Frequency Questionnaire (FCFQ) was applied to 395 adults. Body mass index (BMI), associated with adiposity indicators, was used as a reference for grouping a sample into adiposity levels. The WF was calculated according to the WF Assessment Method, considering correction factors and accounting for water involved in cooking and food washing. Our results showed that the Mexican diet spends 6,056 liters per person per day (L p-1d-1) and is 55% higher than international healthy diets WF. Consumption of beef, milk, fruits, chicken, and fatty cereals represented 56% of total WF. Strong relations appeared between hypercaloric diets and high WF. Diets of people with excess adiposity generated statistically higher WF with extra expenses of 729 L p-1d-1 compared with the normal adiposity population. Following nutritional recommendations offers a protective factor in water care, whereas not adhering to these represents a risk up to 93 times greater of water expenditure regarding international healthy diets. Therefore, both for the general population and to regulate obesity, adequate diets can help mitigate the problem of water scarcity.

Efecto del número de interrupciones en el patrón de conducta sedentaria sobre el gasto energético / Effect of the number of interruptions in the pattern of sedentary behavior on energy expenditure

Resumen: El papel de la conducta sedentaria sobre el deterioro del estado de salud ha sido ampliamente documentado como factor promotor de patologías. La evidencia científica demuestra que el porcentaje de personas que mantienen una actividad sedentaria aumenta en las grandes ciudades, y con ello el sobrepeso, la obesidad, la diabetes, la hipertensión, etc. Recientemente se ha evaluado el efecto de interrumpir los periodos de conducta sedentaria con actividad física, demostrando que con ello se aumenta el gasto energético. El objetivo del presente experimento fue comparar el efecto de 2 programas de interrupción del patrón de conducta sedentaria sobre el gasto calórico. Ocho alumnos universitarios se expusieron a 2 programas de interrupción de la conducta sedentaria. Para obtener el gasto energético se utilizaron monitores cardiacos de la marca Beurer modelo pm18. El primer programa consistió en periodos de 15 min de conducta sedentaria seguidos de una interrupción de 2.5 min de caminata como actividad física. El segundo presentó periodos de 30 min de conducta sedentaria seguidos de una interrupción de 5 min de actividad física. El análisis utilizando t de Student para muestras pareadas mostró que existe una diferencia significativa en el gasto calórico durante la conducta sedentaria entre el programa 1 y el 2. Se concluye que aumentar el número de interrupciones en los periodos de conducta sedentaria tiene un efecto directo sobre el gasto calórico.

Abstract: Sedentary behavior's role on health damage has been documented as a promoting factor of pathologies. Scientific evidence shows an increasing percentage of people with sedentary activity especially in large cities causing overweight, obesity, diabetes, hypertension etc. Effects of interrupting sedentary behavior periods with physical activity have been recently evaluated, demonstrating increases on energy expenditure. The objective of this experiment was to compare the effect of two interruption programs of sedentary behavior pattern on caloric expenditure. Participants were exposed to two interruption programs of sedentary behavior. For energy expenditure, heart monitors brand Beurer PM18 model used. First program consisted on 15-minutes periods of sedentary behavior followed by a 2.5 minutes walking break as physical activity. Second program consisted on periods of 30 minutes of sedentary behavior followed by a 5 minutes break of physical activity. Analysis used Student t test for paired samples showed a significant difference in caloric expenditure during sedentary behavior between program 1 and 2. Concluding that increasing the number of interruptions of periods of sedentary behavior has a direct effect on caloric expenditure.