P128 Diet Quality, Food Access, Obesity and Hypertension Risk in Rural Nicaragua

Abstract

Background Obesity rates are rising in Nicaragua, however, there is limited research on food related behavioral and environmental risk factors as well as associated health risks. Objective Examine dietary patterns and quality, food access, obesity and related chronic disease risk (e.g. blood pressure) in rural Nicaragua. Study Design, Settings, and Participants Cross-sectional survey (translated into Spanish), anthropometric (height, weight) and blood pressure measures were obtained with adult participants >18 years. Trained interpreters assisted with consent and data collection. Data were collected during free health clinics in two rural mountainous regions in March 2018. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Patterns of food consumption (qualitative FFQ), food access (Household Food Insecurity Access Scale [HFIAS]), Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure and sociodemographic variables. Analysis were performed with SPSS 25.0 and included descriptive and bivariate analysis. Results Participants (n = 123, 85% female) had a mean age of 32.2 ± 15.7 years and included residents from La Rocha, La Tierra Blanca (48.8%) or La Hermidad (51.2%) with a mean household size of 4.9 ± 1.8. Foods most commonly consumed daily included: beans (88%), corn tortillas (84%), rice (80%). Produce mostly commonly consumed daily included: onions (67%), tomatoes (54%) and bananas (35%). 45% percent were identified as overweight and 17.4% as obese with a mean BMI of 26.2 kg/m2 ± 3.9. 63% of the participants blood pressure were above normal and 36.7% within normal ranges. Mean HFIAS food access scores were 9.2 ± 6.3 (range 0-27). Food access was marginally associated with blood pressure ( P = .077) and location ( P = .060) but not weight status ( P = .97). Conclusion Participants from rural Nicaragua reported limited daily dietary variety, high consumption of starchy foods, low consumption of fruits and vegetables and were found to be at risk for overweight, obesity and elevated blood pressure. Funding None.