Socioeconomic inequalities in the consumption of fruits and vegetables: Colombian National Nutrition Survey, 2010

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate inequalities in the consumption of fruits and vegetables. A multilevel study was performed based on cross-sectional data of adults from 18 to 64 years of age (n = 5,217) and in geodemographic units (n = 33). The consumption of fruits and vegetables was estimated with a food frequency questionnaire administered as part of the 2010 Colombian National Nutrition Survey (ENSIN). Inequality indices for the consumption of whole fruits and fruit juice and for raw and cooked vegetables were estimated using data on wealth, food security, geographical area and monetary poverty. The prevalence of the consumption of cooked vegetables was 64.8% (95%CI: 59.2-70.4) among men and the prevalence of the consumption of fruit juice was 86.1% (95%CI: 82.4-89.8) among women. The frequency of the consumption of fruit juice was 1.03 times/day (95%CI: 0.93-1.14) among women. The prevalence and frequency fruits and vegetables consumption per day for the three socioeconomic variables considered in this study are higher according to the higher socioeconomic level (p < 0.05), except for the consumption frequency of whole fruits/day (p = 0.24). At the individual level, the Gini coefficient for frequency/day ranged from 0.51 to 0.62. At the ecological level, the Gini index for prevalence ranged from 0.04 to 0.14; and for frequency/day ranged from 0.03 to 0.11. The Colombian population does not meet fruits and vegetables consumption recommendations. Men and women favor the consumption of fruit juice over whole fruits. The inequality in vegetable consumption is clear, with men at a disadvantage. The poor eat fewer fruits and vegetables.

Covid-19 Confinement and Changes of Adolescent’s Dietary Trends in Italy, Spain, Chile, Colombia and Brazil

“…In addition, the Colombian adolescents had low overall fruit and vegetable consumption, despite having increased their fruit intake in a significant way during confinement. These results are consistent with previous studies that show that the Colombian population does not consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables [31]. In our study, Spain and Italy were the countries with the greatest mean consumption of fruits (4-5 times per week), and significantly increased their consumption during COVID-19 confinement (Table 2).…”

State-level income inequality and the odds for meeting fruit and vegetable recommendations among US adults

“…A first step would be to identify an association between income inequality and dietary behavior, such as fruit and vegetable intake. In a recent study, researchers did not observe a significant relationship between income inequality and fruit and vegetable intake but these findings were observed among adults in Colombia [25]. Income inequality might be adversely associated with fruit and vegetable intake among adults living in higher socioeconomic countries.…”

Socio-economic disparity in food consumption among young children in eight South Asian and Southeast Asian countries

“…It has been consistently found that the prevalence of fruit and vegetable consumption was positively associated with socio-economic level [ 34 ]. In our study, an equitable consumption of DGLV was seen, but vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables were socio-economically, disproportionately distributed.…”