Appetite sensation scores and dietary intake of pregnant and lactating women in western Kenya (LB473)

Abstract

Complex biological, behavioral, socioeconomic and psychological factors influence appetite and subsequent dietary intake; as such, focusing only on a single factor can lead to inappropriate dietary recommendations. This is especially true when poverty‐associated malnutrition and infectious diseases coexist; although both negatively impact dietary intake, very different solutions are needed. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate an adapted scale of appetite sensations and compare these scores to dietary intake among 20 pregnant and 18 lactating women in Nyanza province. A research dietitian implemented the adapted appetite and dietary intake questionnaires. The appetite questionnaire consisted of a 5‐point visual analog scale for each of 4 questions to assess degree of hunger, desire to eat, satiety or food aversions. Dietary intake was assessed by a 24‐hour dietary recall with macronutrient intake, dietary quality and diversity estimated. The majority (60%) consumed a sufficiently diverse diet (蠅6 food groups), with caloric intake distributed adequately between macronutrients (11%=protein; 64%=carbohydrate; 24%=lipid). Despite this, 2/3 consumed insufficient calories [mean(SD) pregnant=2000(717) kcal/d; lactating=2172(720)] and 40% consumed insufficient protein [pregnant=61(29)g/d; lactating=69(32)]. Higher caloric intake was moderately correlated with less hunger and weakly correlated with a greater desire to eat and fewer food aversions but not satiety. These data provide proof of concept that appetite sensations are correlated with dietary intake in this context, and future research is needed to evaluate how appetite scores differ according to poverty and/or infection causes of maternal malnutrition.