Abstract
Nutrition studies among Roma are scarce and to date no quantified dietary data are available. This report provides, for the first time, quantified dietary data and comprehensive anthropometric information for the Hungarian Roma (HR) population, with Hungarian general (HG) adults as reference. Data were obtained from a complex comparative health survey, involving 387 and 410 subjects of HR and HG populations, respectively. Using corporal measurements, body composition indicators were constructed, while daily nutrient intakes were evaluated in comparison with internationally accepted guidelines on nutrient requirements and recommended intakes. Associations between Roma ethnicity and nutrient intakes, as well as odds of achieving dietary recommendations were explored using regression models, adjusted for relevant covariates (i.e., age, gender, education, marital status and perceived financial status). Results showed occasional differences for selected nutrient intakes between the groups, with HR’s intake being less favorable. Total fat intake, predominantly animal-sourced, exceeded recommendations among HR (36.1 g, 95% confidence interval (CI): 35.2–37.0) and was not dissimilar to HG group (37.1 g, 95% CI: 36.3–38.0). Sodium intake among HR was significantly lower (5094.4 mg, 95% CI: 4866.0–5322.8) compared to HG (5644.0 mg, 95% CI: 5351.9–5936.0), but significantly greater than recommended intake in both groups. HR had greater estimated body fatness (25.6–35.1%) and higher average body mass index (BMI, 27.7 kg/m2, 95% CI: 26.9–28.4), compared to HG. In addition, HR had lower odds of achieving dietary recommendations (odds ratio (OR) = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.67–0.97, p < 0.05). Findings warrant further research, while highlighting the importance of establishing and integrating Roma nutrition into national surveillance and monitoring systems for key dietary risk factors.
Highlights
The Roma population constitutes the largest ethnic minority in Europe [1] and has been a major focus of ethnicity-based studies in past decades [2,3]
In our study the representation of females among Hungarian Roma (HR) was higher than among Hungarian general (HG). This has been the case in our previous surveys conducted among segregated Roma colonies in Hungary, with more female respondents [18], and in Roma surveys in other countries
The current dietary profile and nutritional status of HR living in segregated colonies in Northeastern Hungary, was found to be suboptimal, with inadequate nutrient composition and anthropometric status estimates, not strongly different than HG population, but occasionally worse among HR
Summary
The Roma population constitutes the largest ethnic minority in Europe (estimated to be between10–12 million) [1] and has been a major focus of ethnicity-based studies in past decades [2,3]. Survey results from different European countries, attempting to elucidate dietary aspects of Roma, have indicated detrimental dietary patterns, linked to the common hallmarks of diet-related NCDs, namely inadequate and infrequent consumption of fruits, vegetables [21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33] and dairy products [25,27,28,29,34], unfavorable consumption of fast foods [35,36,37,38], animal fats [30,33,38,39], sugar-sweetened beverages [24,25,30,37], as well as confectionery [30] These studies have described food choices and eating habits, several questions on dietary intake profile still remain unanswered. Such information would be very useful, in recognizing how diet may be related to health, and in determining which specific aspect(s) of diet or nutrient(s) should be targeted, when designing and/or implementing preventive interventions among Roma, i.e., identifying effective ways of intervening to reduce health inequalities
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