Household Food Insecurity, Hair Cortisol, and Adiposity Among Tsimane’ Hunter‐Forager‐Horticulturalists in Bolivia

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined how household food insecurity (HFI) and chronic stress relate to adiposity among Tsimane' hunter-foragerhorticulturalists in remote Bolivia with limited access to energy-dense processed foods that promote weight gain among industrialized populations. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional data on HFI (via the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale [HFIAS]), hair cortisol concentration (HCC), adiposity (BMI, body fat percentage [%BF]), and sociodemographics were collected from 171 men, 164 women, and 167 children. Linear mixedeffects models tested linear, quadratic, joint, and interactive relationships between adiposity measures and both the HFIAS score and HCC. Results: Among children, each 3-point HFIAS score increase was associated with a 0.44-point higher %BF (SE = 0.22, P = 0.04). However, each 20% increase in HCC was associated with a −0.29-point difference in %BF (SE = 0.12, P = 0.01). Among men, a slight curvilinear relationship emerged between HFIAS and BMI. HFIAS and HCC were unrelated to adiposity measures among women. HCC did not modify relationships between HFIAS and adiposity in any subgroup. Conclusions: These findings from a remote, small-scale population suggest that positive associations between HFI and adiposity are not isolated to contexts of industrialized food environments and heavy reliance on processed foods. However, these dynamics and the role of stress appear to differ by sex and age group.

Insegurança Alimentar E Sua Associação Com Obesidade Em Crianças: Uma Revisão Integrativa Da Literatura

“…Este estudo pretende sumarizar as razões que possibilitam uma relação direta entre IA e obesidade em crianças, de 6 a 12 anos. Essa associação já foi identificada em alguns estudos sob a perspectiva antropométrica (Kral, Chittams, Moore, 2018), racial (Eskandari, et al, 2022), socioeconômica (LEYVA, et al, 2020), sociodemográfica (Ortiz-Marrón, et al, 2022, dos hábitos de vida (Tester, Rosas, Leung, 2020), da saúde mental (Bethancourt, et al, 2021) e da pandemia da COVID-19 (Adams, et al, 2020).…”

“…Posto isso, o positivismo mental dos pais também foi associado a menores riscos de sobrepeso/obesidade infantil, exibindo a interferência da saúde mental no status de peso (Foster, et al, 2020). Porém, num estudo com 167 crianças, níveis de cortisol capilar foram negativamente associados com a porcentagem de gordura corporal, podendo significar que o ganho de peso independe apenas das alterações hormonais durante o estresse (Bethancourt, et al, 2021).…”

Community-based diabetes prevention randomized controlled trial in refugees with depression: effects on metabolic outcomes and depression

“…Hair samples were obtained from approximately 2 cm below the cranial bone. Hair (1 cm, ~ 1 month of growth) was processed according to standard methods 30 : washed in isopropanol, dried, extracted on methanol and assayed using a standard ELISA kit.…”

When the flood passes, does health return? A short panel examining water and food insecurity, nutrition, and disease after an extreme flood in lowland Bolivia

“…Houses are primarily constructed on elevated packed mud or dirt with palm‐thatched roofs, though villages that are closer to the main market town are increasingly using metal roofs, and some communities are receiving brick houses. Nutritionally, Tsimane' have high levels of stunting (Godoy et al, 2010) and slowly increasing levels of adiposity as they begin to incorporate more market foods and beverages into their diets (Bethancourt et al, 2019) while simultaneously also experiencing food insecurity (Bethancourt, Ulrich, et al, 2021).…”