Nutritional status, eating habits and indicators of salugenic environment in rural adolescents of Tucumán

SAL, F.; SALAZAR BURGOS, R.; LACUNZA, B.; FERNANDEZ, N.; CABALLERO, V.; FILGUEIRA, J.; DIAZ, Y.; ALÉ, M.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; IUNS 21st International Congress of Nutrition; 2019

Background and objectives: Literature indicates that soci- oeconomic disparities affect health, due to a reduced presence of physical, ecological and psychosocial protective resources. The objective was to evaluate the relationship between nutri- tional status, eating habits and salugenic environment indicators in rural Tucuman adolescents. Methods: Anthropometric Measurements (Weight, Height, BMI) according to WHO criteria. Structured questionnaire of Food Habits with descriptive rat- ing scale of 5 categories (designed for this study). Structured questionnaire of salugenic environment indicators (presence of tap water, waste collection and presence of sewers). The environment was considered salugenic when the respondent had at least one of these indicators. Sample: 167 adolescents students of low and medium socioec- onomic level between 11 and 18 years (57% were women), from rural schools of the province of Tucumán. It was stratified into 2 subgroups: Clinical group (over weight) and Control group (regu- lar weight). There is no incidental type probabilistic. Results: The clinical group presented a greater absence of salu- genic environmental indicators than the control group (24% vs. 21%). Comparing the clinical and control groups with eating habits, the control group represented a higher consumption in the catego- ries of ?always and always? protective foods (fruits, vegetables, dairy products and eggs) and hypercaloric (sweets, ice cream, chocolates). The clinical group had a lower consumption of protective foods. Relating eating habits and indicators of the salugenic environ- ment, it was found that in the categories ?never and almost never? the consumption of healthy foods (beef, fish, eggs, fruits, vegeta- bles and dairy products) the percentages were higher in people who did not present Indicators of salugenic environment than in their peers who responded to have at least one indicator (Fish 39% vs. 29%, vegetables 31% vs. 11% and milk 54% vs. 28%). Regarding the consumption of hypercaloric foods (sweets, ice cream, chocolates and soft drinks), a greater proportion of ?always / almost always? responses were observed among adolescents with not salugenic environment indicators in this food group (81% Vs. 45%, 50% vs. 28%, 61% vs. 35%).Conclusions: Rural adolescents belonging to less salugenic environments reported higher consumption of hypercaloric foods. These data are relevant for the design of interdisplinary intervention strategies focused on food and surrounding ecological contexts.