Food patterns and nutritional state among students of medium‐low socioeconomic level from Hermosillo, Sonora, M¦xico

Abstract

This study aimed to identify dietary patterns in students and assess association of these patterns with health nutrition state. A school-based sample of 66 students between 6 and 7 years of medium-low socioeconomic level was selected in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Body mass index was calculated and two 24-hour recalls were obtained. Five distinct dietary factors were obtained explaining 57% of the total variation using factor analysis with varimax rotation. The five factors were: 1) foods eaten in a monotonous diet (beans, corn tortilla and processed meat), 2) foods sold in school (beverages, chips, snack, and hot sauce), 3) meats and bread, 4) foods in a healthy diet (dairy products and fruits), and 5) foods rich in energy and sugars (fast food, breakfast cereal, and soft drink). The association between the five dietary factors and nutrition state was assessed through linear regression model. The third factor was the only one significantly associated with the nutrition state (A= 2.38 EE= 1.10, p= 0.038). These results suggest that high consumption of meat and bread is related to high BMI in young Mexican school children.