Dietary patterns in Mexican children and adolescents: Characterization and relation with socioeconomic and home environment factors

Abstract

Background: Eating habits in children and adolescents are influenced by multiple determinants, which include socioeconomic and home environmental factors.

Objective: To characterize the dietary patterns in Mexican children and adolescents and to assess its association with socioeconomic and home environmental factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 878 children and adolescents aged 5-15 years, unrelated, selected randomly from Morelos Sports Unit at north of Mexico City. Dietary, anthropometric, family, and socioeconomic information was obtained from each participant. Dietary patterns were identified through cluster analysis. The association between dietary patterns with socioeconomic and home environmental factors was assessed by a multivariate multinomial logistic regression model.

Results: Three major dietary patterns were identified: diverse dietary pattern (D), high fat dietary pattern (HF), and high sugar dietary pattern (HS). 87% of the participants followed the HF or HS dietary patterns (36% & 51%, respectively). Mother's occupation and the child's screen time was associated with a significant likelihood of following a HF and HS dietary patterns.

Conclusion: A high percentage of children and adolescents reported following a HS or HF dietary pattern, which in turn were associated with socioeconomic and home environmental factors. These results suggests priority groups for prevention and control actions.

Keywords: Adolescents; Children; Dietary patterns; Mexico; Socio-determinants.