Association of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors with dietary patterns among men and women living in Mexico City: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundDiet is one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases and is related to sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, including sex. These associations vary across populations. We aimed to investigate which factors are associated with dietary patterns among adults living in Mexico City by sex.MethodsWe used data from the Mexico City Diabetes Representative Study, a cross-sectional, multistage, stratified, and cluster-sampled survey in Mexico City (n = 1,142; 413 men and 729 women). Dietary information was collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Foods and beverages were categorized into 23 food groups to identify dietary patterns by cluster analysis. Sociodemographic and lifestyle variables included were self-reported through standardized questionnaires. We assessed the association of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors with dietary patterns through a multinomial logistic model stratified by sex.ResultsWe identified three dietary patterns: basic, prudent, and fast food. Among men and women, higher school attainment was associated with a lower relative probability of having a basic rather than prudent dietary pattern (women: RRR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.8, 0.9; men: RRR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.7, 0.9). Divorced or separated men (RRR = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.3, 11.2) and those living with a partner (RRR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.1, 6.1) had a higher relative probability of consuming a fast food dietary pattern than the prudent one, compared to single men. Men living with a partner (RRR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.1, 8.6) or working long shifts (RRR = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.3, 11.1) had a higher probability of consuming a basic pattern rather than a prudent one compared to peers. Among women, those with high SES had a lower probability of consuming the “basic” pattern rather than the “prudent” pattern compared to those with low SES. No lifestyle factors were associated to dietary patterns.ConclusionsMen living in Mexico City with lower education, age, non-single, and working long hours (i.e., more than the established by the law), and women with lower age, education, and socioeconomic level are prone to adhere to unhealthy diets. These associations are likely to be driven by gender roles.

Sociodemographic determinants of eating patterns in two Latin American populations

“…The main difference between the study populations was the presence of a dietary pattern composed exclusively of foods with some degree of processing, "Processed", which represented the highest percentage of variation in the diet of the Pernambuco population (16.5%). Similar findings to this study have been reported in other Latin American populations, such as Mexico, 40 Argentina 41 and Chile. 42 Brazil and Colombia are inserted in a hegemonic global food system, where the guidelines of world food trade cross the diet of the population, and the supply of food is limited to particular varieties and species, which has led to a "homogenisation" in food patterns 43 ; in the present study, it was found that the food patterns identificated in both populations are composed of similar food groups, which confirms this trend to homogenisation and responds to one of initial study hypotheses.…”

“…The main difference between the study populations was the presence of a dietary pattern composed exclusively of foods with some degree of processing, “Processed”, which represented the highest percentage of variation in the diet of the Pernambuco population (16.5%). Similar findings to this study have been reported in other Latin American populations, such as Mexico, 40 Argentina 41 and Chile 42 …”

“…Families with lower monthly incomes are less able to purchase food in adequate quantity and quality for their needs 54 . According to Mayen et al, 15 prudent or healthy patterns are composed of foods of higher cost and are related to a better quality diet, which somewhat corroborates with the present study in which the main food groups of the “Prudent” patterns of Pernambuco and Antioquia were fruits, vegetables, dairy products and whole grains, and were strongly related to having a higher monthly income, higher level of education, food security and contributory social security regime, and small families, with such a finding also having been reported in other populations 15,40–42 …”

“…54 According to Mayen et al, 15 prudent or healthy patterns are composed of foods of higher cost and are related to a better quality diet, which somewhat corroborates with the present study in which the main food groups of the "Prudent" patterns of Pernambuco and Antioquia were fruits, vegetables, dairy products and whole grains, and were strongly related to having a higher monthly income, higher level of education, food security and contributory social security regime, and small families, with such a finding also having been reported in other populations. 15,[40][41][42] Even though it was not the object of the present study, it was observed that the ways of preparing and consuming foods, presents differences related to the cuisine and traditions of the populations, which means that, despite the trend towards diet homogenisation, the local food culture presents itself as a factor that favors the maintenance of differences, which we recommend should be studied in greater depth in future studies.…”

Consumer Knowledge about Dietary Relevance of Fruits and Vegetables: A Study Involving Participants from Portugal and France

“…In our study, female participants exhibited a higher level of knowledge than male participants, confirming sex-related differences in knowledge of fruits and vegetables [ 41 , 61 ]. Women are often associated with concerns about their appearance and tend to adopt a more health-conscious approach to eating [ 62 , 63 ].…”