Monounsaturated Fat Intake Was Associated with Lower Abdominal Obesity but Poor Dietary Quality Remains in Elementary School Children from Northwest Mexico.

Overweight and obesity in Mexican elementary school children increased ten percentage points in the last 30 years; one of the factors attributed is inadequate dietary quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of monounsaturated fat intake with abdominal obesity and nutrient intake and obesity and overweight with dietary quality of elementary school children from Northwest Mexico. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 218 first grade elementary school children. A socioeconomic survey and two nonconsecutive 24-HR were applied, and anthropometric measurements were taken. Dietary quality was evaluated and classified as: healthy, medium and poor. Children consumed fewer servings of fruits, vegetables, legumes, dairy products and water than recommended by the Mexican food guidelines. A negative association was found among monounsaturated fat intake and abdominal obesity (p = .032). Only 1.4% of the children presented healthy dietary quality, 44.5% showed a medium dietary quality, and 54.1% had poor dietary quality. Poor dietary quality was associated with a lower intake of fiber (p = .002), protein (p = .002), potassium (p = .001) and vitamin E (p = .002). Elementary school children from Northwest Mexico have inadequate dietary quality that compromises their nutritional and health status, while monounsaturated fat intake could be a protective factor for abdominal obesity.

Determinants and Consequences of Food Insecurity in Artisanal Fishing Families From the Coastal Community of Sonora, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Families living from artisanal fisheries are vulnerable to food insecurity. OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to assess the determinants and consequences of food insecurity in artisanal fishing families from the coastal community of Sonora, Mexico, and to understand how these families face food insecurity. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with 116 mothers. A socioeconomic, demographic, and nutritional knowledge survey was applied to assess determinants. A survey about food in the community and food security scale were collected to evaluate food insecurity and two 24-hour dietary recalls and anthropometric measures to assess consequences. Field notes about facing food insecurity were collected. RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of families have food insecurity. Being above the poverty line, higher father education, knowing how many glasses of water should be drunk per day, and how many minutes of physical activity should be done per day were associated with lower food insecurity. Not having medical service and lower mother education were associated with higher food insecurity. Higher food insecurity was associated with buying in a convenience store; higher food insecurity and higher mother education were associated with lower dietary score; and higher father education was associated with higher dietary score. Being below the extreme poverty line by income and number of children were associated with lower waist circumference; lower father education was associated with higher waist circumference of mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Artisanal fishing families residing in the coastal community of Sonora, Mexico, experience high food insecurity associated with social and economic determinants and their dietary quality.

Food Insecurity Was Associated with Lower Fruits and Vegetables Consumption but Not with Overweight and Obesity in Children from Mexican Fishing Communities.

Food insecurity has been associated with decreased household food supplies, which could affect children's fruit and vegetables intakes and increases their risk of being overweight or obese. The aim of this study was to determine if food insecurity was associated with lower fruit and vegetables consumption and overweight and obesity in children from Mexican fishing communities. A cross-sectional study was 4conducted with 100 elementary-school children aged 6-12 years. A survey that evaluated socioeconomic conditions, food insecurity, and fruits and vegetables consumption was applied. Weight and height were measured. The association between key variables and food insecurity was assessed using linear regression. Sixty-four percent of households experienced food insecurity. Food-insecure children reported lower consumption of fruits and fruits plus vegetables than did their peers with food security (P trend = 0.040 and 0.038, respectively). Food insecurity was also associated with lower chance to meet the recommendation of fruit and vegetable consumption (P trend in logit < 0.001), but was negatively associated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity (P trend in logit < 0.001). Food-insecure children had lower fruits and vegetables consumption but were no more likely to be overweight or obese than their food-secure counterparts.

Food insecurity was associated with low quality diet and low HDL level in mothers of Northwest Mexico relying on fisheries for livelihood / La inseguridad alimentaria se asoció con una dieta de baja calidad y bajo nivel de HDL en madres de familia del noroeste de México que dependen de la pesca como medio de subsistencia

Background: food insecurity occurs when quality and quantity of food is insufficient for maintaining healthy nutritional and food profiles. Objectives: to determine if food insecurity is associated with dietary and biochemical measures in mothers of the northwest of Mexico, which relies primarily on fisheries for livelihood. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted with 116 mothers of the Northwest of Mexico. A socioeconomic survey, food security scale, and two non-consecutive 24-hour recalls were applied. Anthropometric measurements were made and hemoglobin, glucose and cholesterol levels were measured. The association between key measures and food insecurity was assessed using logistic and linear regression. Results: two-thirds (68%) of households experienced food insecurity. Mothers with mild insecurity had 3.7 and 3.2 times higher odds of not consuming fruits and vegetables, respectively, and 4.9 times higher odds of consuming sweetened non-dairy drinks (p = 0.04; 0.04 and 0.05, respectively). In addition, they consumed less protein (β = -3.22%; p < 0.01) and more carbohydrates (β = 6.04%; p = 0.02) compared with mothers with food security. Mothers with severe insecurity consumed less iodine (β = -24.41 μg; p = 0.03) and had lower levels of HDL cholesterol (β = -12.01 mg/dl; p = 0.03) than mothers with food security. Conclusions: food insecurity was associated with low quality diet and low levels of HDL cholesterol in mothers of Northwest Mexico relying on fisheries for livelihood

Introducción: la inseguridad alimentaria ocurre cuando la calidad y la cantidad de alimentos son insuficientes para mantener un perfil nutricional y alimentario saludable. Objetivos: determinar si la inseguridad alimentaria está asociada con indicadores dietéticos y bioquímicos en madres del noroeste de México que dependen principalmente de la pesca como medio de subsistencia. Métodos: se realizó un estudio transversal con 116 madres del noroeste de México. Se aplicó una encuesta socioeconómica, una escala de seguridad alimentaria y dos recordatorios de 24 horas. Se realizaron mediciones antropométricas y se midieron los niveles de hemoglobina, glucosa y colesterol. La asociación entre las medidas clave y la inseguridad alimentaria se evaluó mediante regresión logística y lineal. Resultados: dos tercios (68%) de los hogares experimentaron inseguridad alimentaria. Las madres con inseguridad leve tuvieron una probabilidad 3,7 y 3,2 veces mayor de no consumir frutas y verduras, respectivamente, y 4,9 veces más probabilidad de consumir bebidas endulzadas no lácteas (p = 0,04; 0,04 y 0,05, respectivamente). Además, consumieron menos proteínas (β = -3,22%; p < 0,01) y más carbohidratos (β = 6,04%; p = 0,02) en comparación con madres con seguridad alimentaria. Las madres con inseguridad severa consumieron menos yodo (β = -24,41 μg; p = 0,03) y tuvieron niveles más bajos de colesterol HDL (β = -12,01 mg/dl; p = 0,03) que las madres con seguridad alimentaria. Conclusiones: la inseguridad alimentaria se asoció con una dieta de baja calidad y bajos niveles de colesterol HDL en madres del noroeste de México que dependen de la pesca como medio de vida