Exploring the nutrition transition in different urban scenarios in Argentina

TUMAS, NATALIA; POU, SONIA A.; RODRÍGUEZ JUNYENT, CONSTANZA; SCRUZZI, GRACIELA F.

Philadelphia

Simposio; Urban Health Symposium; 2017

Drexel Urban Health Collaborative

Background: Nutrition transition(NT) is the process of broad changes in diet, physical activity patterns, andin turn population nutritional status over the past several decades, linked torapid growth in urban population. However, the urbanization-TN relation hasbeen scarcely studied in Argentina. Objectives: To identify NT patterns according to theArgentine provinces? level of urbanization (2005-2013). Methods: Multi-group ecologicalstudy (24 geographical units). NT indicators (nutritional status, dietaryintake and physical activity) were selected from national surveys and census data.A principal component factor analysis (varimax rotation) wascarried out to synthesize and identify clustering patterns among NT indicators,by levels of urbanization: provinces with values below or above the populationmedian for the "percentage of households in urban areas (>2000inhabitants)" indicator. Results: Inthe most urbanized provinces group emerged three patterns comparable toadvanced stages of NT (predominance of non-communicable diseases): the firstfactor was characterized by childhood obesity, computer use, frequent saltconsumption, and fruit/vegetable intake; the second one by overweight andphysical inactivity; and the third one by underweight and stunting in children.In contrast, in the less urbanized provinces group, the first identifiedpattern (higher factor loadings for under-height in children and unsatisfiedbasic needs), would be link to an earlier phase of NT (famine remission). Implications: Urbanization wouldbe considered as a large-scale social determinant of the NT process inArgentina. It is recommendable to integrate urbanization, health and nutritionpolicies, joining efforts to improve population health outcomes in a growingurbanization context.