The role of social determinants on unhealthy eating habits in an urban area in Mexico: A qualitative study in low-income mothers with a young child at home

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are a severe public health problem in Mexico. National policies to fight unhealthy eating have been implemented but they don't target social and family environment determinants. Our study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the determinants of unhealthy eating by exploring the perspectives and experiences of low-income Mexican women with a young child at home. We conducted a purposeful sampling to include participating kindergartens in Morelos, México. Women with a child enrolled in the kindergarten were invited to focus group discussions. Afterward, women with specific profiles were invited to in-depth interviews. During analysis we applied Dahlgren and Whitehead's model of social determinants of health (SDH). Overall, we found that participants have unhealthy habits, for example: low variability in consumption patterns, regular sugar-sweetened beverages intake and insufficient fruit and vegetable intake. By low variability we mean frequently consumed products (on most days of the week) limited to a restricted food set. As for the determinants of unhealthy habits, we found at the community level that families encourage unhealthy eating. At the household and work level, tight schedules for food preparation determine unhealthy eating. And, at a socio-economic level, lack of access and money constraints shape unhealthy habits. Unhealthy habits are determined by factors on multiple levels and using an SDH approach can be an effective way to inform comprehensive strategies targeting the overweight and obesity epidemic in Mexico and other low- and middle-income countries.

Keywords: Eating habits; Social determinants; Unhealthy habits.