Sociodemographic factors associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods in Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the consumption of ultra-processed foods in the Colombian population across sociodemographic factors. METHODS: We used data from the 2005 National Survey of the Nutritional Status in Colombia. Food consumption was assessed using a 24-hour food recall in 38,643 individuals. The food items were classified according to the degree and extent of industrial processing using the NOVA classification. RESULTS: The mean calorie contribution of ultra-processed foods ranged from 0.2% in the lowest quintile of consumers to 41.1% in the highest quintile of consumers. The greatest increases were due to the consumption of industrialized breads, sweet and savory snacks, sugary drinks, processed meats, and confectionery. No major differences were found in the consumption of ultra-processed foods between men and women. We observed significant differences by age, socioeconomic status, area of residence, and geographic region. Children and adolescents showed a higher intake of ultra-processed foods, almost double that of participants over 50 years of age. Children consumed significantly more snacks, confectionery products, processed cereals, milk-based drinks and desserts. Participants over 50 years consumed fewer products from these sub-groups of ultra-processed foods but had the highest consumption of industrialized bread. Individuals from urban areas, those with high socioeconomic status, participants residing in the Bogotá region had 1.5 to 1.7 times higher calorie intake from ultra-processed foods compared with those from a lower socioeconomic status and those residing in rural regions. CONCLUSION: In Colombia, industrialized bread is the ultra-processed product that is most easily assimilated into the traditional diet, along with snacks and sugary drinks. Children and adolescents residing in urban areas and households with greater purchasing power have some of the highest intakes of ultra-processed foods in the country.

Sociodemographic factors associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods in Colombia / Factores sociodemográficos asociados al consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados en Colombia

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze the consumption of ultra-processed foods in the Colombian population across sociodemographic factors. METHODS We used data from the 2005 National Survey of the Nutritional Status in Colombia. Food consumption was assessed using a 24-hour food recall in 38,643 individuals. The food items were classified according to the degree and extent of industrial processing using the NOVA classification. RESULTS The mean calorie contribution of ultra-processed foods ranged from 0.2% in the lowest quintile of consumers to 41.1% in the highest quintile of consumers. The greatest increases were due to the consumption of industrialized breads, sweet and savory snacks, sugary drinks, processed meats, and confectionery. No major differences were found in the consumption of ultra-processed foods between men and women. We observed significant differences by age, socioeconomic status, area of residence, and geographic region. Children and adolescents showed a higher intake of ultra-processed foods, almost double that of participants over 50 years of age. Children consumed significantly more snacks, confectionery products, processed cereals, milk-based drinks and desserts. Participants over 50 years consumed fewer products from these sub-groups of ultra-processed foods but had the highest consumption of industrialized bread. Individuals from urban areas, those with high socioeconomic status, participants residing in the Bogotá region had 1.5 to 1.7 times higher calorie intake from ultra-processed foods compared with those from a lower socioeconomic status and those residing in rural regions. CONCLUSION In Colombia, industrialized bread is the ultra-processed product that is most easily assimilated into the traditional diet, along with snacks and sugary drinks. Children and adolescents residing in urban areas and households with greater purchasing power have some of the highest intakes of ultra-processed foods in the country.

RESUMEN OBJETIVO Analizar el consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados en la población colombiana según factores sociodemográficos. MÉTODOS Se usaron datos de la Encuesta Nacional de la Situación Nutricional en Colombia del año 2005. El consumo de alimentos se evaluó por medio de recordatorio 24 horas en 38.643 individuos. Los ítems alimentarios se clasificaron según el grado y extensión de procesamiento industrial usando la propuesta NOVA. RESULTADOS La contribución promedio de calorías de los alimentos ultraprocesados varió del 0,2% en el primer quintil al 41,1% en el ultimo quintil. Los mayores incrementos se dieron por el consumo de panes industrializados, snacks dulces y salados, las bebidas azucaradas, las carnes procesadas y los productos de confitería. No hubo grandes diferencias en el consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados entre hombres y mujeres. Se observaron diferencias significativas por edad, estatus socioeconómico, área de residencia y región geográfica. Los niños y adolescentes presentaron mayor ingesta de alimentos ultraprocesados, casi el doble que los participantes mayores de 50 años. Los niños consumieron significativamente mayor cantidad de snacks, productos de confitería, cereales procesados, bebidas a base de leche y postres. Mientras que los participantes mayores de 50 años consumieron menor cantidad de productos de estos subgrupos de alimentos ultraprocesados, pero tenían el consumo más alto de pan industrializado. Los habitantes urbanos, con alto estatus socioeconómico, que residían en la región de Bogotá tenían entre 1,5 a 1,7 más veces de ingesta calórica de alimentos ultraprocesados en comparación con sus contrapartes de bajo estatus socioeconómico, y sus contrapartes rurales. CONCLUSIÓN En Colombia, el pan industrializado es el alimento ultraprocesado más fácilmente asimilable en la dieta tradicional, junto con los snacks y las bebidas azucaradas. Los niños y adolescentes residentes en zonas urbanas y hogares con mayor poder adquisitivo fueron más vulnerables en el consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados.

Indigenous and tribal peoples' health (The Lancet-Lowitja Institute Global Collaboration): a population study.

BACKGROUND: International studies of the health of Indigenous and tribal peoples provide important public health insights. Reliable data are required for the development of policy and health services. Previous studies document poorer outcomes for Indigenous peoples compared with benchmark populations, but have been restricted in their coverage of countries or the range of health indicators. Our objective is to describe the health and social status of Indigenous and tribal peoples relative to benchmark populations from a sample of countries. METHODS: Collaborators with expertise in Indigenous health data systems were identified for each country. Data were obtained for population, life expectancy at birth, infant mortality, low and high birthweight, maternal mortality, nutritional status, educational attainment, and economic status. Data sources consisted of governmental data, data from non-governmental organisations such as UNICEF, and other research. Absolute and relative differences were calculated. FINDINGS: Our data (23 countries, 28 populations) provide evidence of poorer health and social outcomes for Indigenous peoples than for non-Indigenous populations. However, this is not uniformly the case, and the size of the rate difference varies. We document poorer outcomes for Indigenous populations for: life expectancy at birth for 16 of 18 populations with a difference greater than 1 year in 15 populations; infant mortality rate for 18 of 19 populations with a rate difference greater than one per 1000 livebirths in 16 populations; maternal mortality in ten populations; low birthweight with the rate difference greater than 2% in three populations; high birthweight with the rate difference greater than 2% in one population; child malnutrition for ten of 16 populations with a difference greater than 10% in five populations; child obesity for eight of 12 populations with a difference greater than 5% in four populations; adult obesity for seven of 13 populations with a difference greater than 10% in four populations; educational attainment for 26 of 27 populations with a difference greater than 1% in 24 populations; and economic status for 15 of 18 populations with a difference greater than 1% in 14 populations. INTERPRETATION: We systematically collated data across a broader sample of countries and indicators than done in previous studies. Taking into account the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we recommend that national governments develop targeted policy responses to Indigenous health, improving access to health services, and Indigenous data within national surveillance systems. FUNDING: The Lowitja Institute.