Are there differences between men and women with respect to the factors associated with calcium intake?

Abstract

The scope of this article is to verify if there are differences in factors associated with calcium intake between men and women. It is based on a study conducted with data from a health survey in a sample of 1641 individuals aged 20 years or more living in the urban area of the city of Campinas, in the State of São Paulo. Calcium intake was obtained from a 24-hour recall (24hr recall method) and analyzed according to sociodemographic variables, health behavior, frequency of meals and body mass index (BMI). The existence of associations was verified by multiple linear regression tests, and it was detected that the profile of associated factors differed between genders. Physical exercise in the leisure context was only associated with calcium intake in males, while skin color, smoking, income, overweight/obesity, and frequency of having breakfast only revealed an association in females. Schooling and having snacks were associated with calcium intake in both sexes. The analysis of the associated factors indicates segments of the female and male population in which the importance of calcium intake needs to be more closely examined. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of conducting health analyses stratified by sex due to the different behavioral patterns that prevail between the sexes.