Factors Associated with Dietary Patterns in Colombia

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Food selection is influenced by cultural, social, economic, and biological factors.
• Understanding dietary patterns is crucial for public health and nutritional interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the factors associated with dietary patterns in Colombia.
• To investigate the relationship between socio-demographic variables, chronic diseases, and dietary habits.

Main Methods:

• Observational, descriptive exploratory study using secondary data from the National Survey of Nutritional Status of Colombia (ENSIN, 2015).
• Data from 16,216 individuals aged 15-64 years were analyzed.
• Logistic regression models and odds ratios (OR) were used to assess associations between variables.

Main Results:

• Traditional and conservative dietary patterns were more probable in individuals with diabetes and hypertension.
• Conservative pattern consumption was associated with females, while traditional pattern consumption was linked to lower wealth quartiles (Q1 and Q2).
• Grill/beverage pattern consumption was more common in males.

Conclusions:

• Socio-demographic factors and chronic non-communicable diseases are significantly associated with dietary patterns in Colombia.
• These findings highlight the need for health professionals to consider individual characteristics in nutritional interventions.
• Targeted interventions can be developed by understanding the interplay between health status, socio-economic factors, and food choices.