Influence of Sociodemographic, Health-Related, and Behavioral Factors on Food Guidelines Compliance in Older Adults: A Hierarchical Approach from the Chilean National Health Survey 2016-17 Data.

Dietary habits are determinants in the development of a range of conditions and age-related diseases. We explored the associations of sociodemographic, health-related indicators, and health behavioral factors on dietary guideline compliance in elderly Chileans. We used a cross-sectional design using the publicly available database from the last Chilean National Health Survey (2016−17). The sample of 1831 older adults (≥60 y) from a national representative sample. The dependent variable was compliance with Food Guidelines (FG) (daily consumption of water, dairy, and fruits and vegetables; and weekly consumption of legumes and fish). The independent variables included sociodemographic, health-related, and behavioral factors. Over half (51.8%) of the sample was female and 85.7% belonged to the 60−79 age group. Satisfactory compliance to FG was observed in 3.9% of the sample. In the adjusted analysis, for those between 60 and 79 y, marital status was the only significant variable associated with FG noncompliance (PR: 1.34; 95%CI: 1.04−1.71). For those over 80 y, income of >2 minimum wages (PR: 0.10; 95%CI: 0.02−0.61), living alone (PR: 1.72; 95%CI: 1.20−2.47), and self-reported cardiovascular disease (PR: 0.63; 95%CI: 0.43−0.93) were associated with FG noncompliance. We observed low FG compliance among elderly Chilean adults, especially in the oldest group. Factors associated with the FG compliance was different between age groups.

Food Availability in Different Food Environments Surrounding Schools in a Vulnerable Urban Area of Santiago, Chile: Exploring Socioeconomic Determinants.

The analysis of the food environment is used to identify areas with gaps in the availability of healthy foods and can be used as a public policy assessment tool. In recent decades, Chile has implemented several strategies and regulations to improve food environments, with encouraging results. Little is known about the scope of these measures in socially vulnerable environments. This study is part of a project that seeks to build an integrated intervention model for healthy school environments in a vulnerable area of Santiago, Chile. The objective of this study was to evaluate the availability of healthy and unhealthy foods around schools and the relationship between it and socioeconomic determinants of the school community in the Chilean context. A cross-sectional study to measure the food environment of informal markets (street food), formal markets (stores), and institutions (schools) was conducted in and around 12 schools (100 m surrounding schools) in a vulnerable urban area of Santiago, Chile. A lack of healthy foods was observed, which was related to some socio-economic determinants and the multidimensional poverty was the most relevant. The diagnosis of food environments around schools can represent an important target for governments to implement policies focused at improving the availability of healthy foods.

Higher Abdominal Adiposity Is Associated With Lower Muscle Strength in Chilean Adults.

Handgrip strength (HGS) is a well-established indicator of muscle strength and a reasonable clinical predictor of metabolic health and diseases. This study explores the association between relative muscular strength and abdominal obesity (AO) in healthy Chilean adults. A convenience sample was recruited (n = 976) between 2018 and 2020. The HGS was determined by dynamometry. The anthropometry (weight, height, waist, and mid-arm circumference) and physical activity were also measured. The relative HGS (RHGS) was calculated by dividing the maximum HGS of the dominant hand by the body mass index. The AO was defined as a waist circumference (WC) >88 cm for women, and >102 cm for men. From the sample, 52.6% were women, 56.4% had excessive weight, and 42.7% had AO. The absolute and RHGS were greater in men compared to women (p < 0.001) and were decreased with age in both sexes. We observed a moderate negative correlation between WC and RHGS (rho = -0.54, and rho = -0.53, for men and women, respectively). The RHGS was lower in individuals with AO, independent of age and sex (p < 0.05). For each cm increase in WC, the odds of low RHGS (<25th percentile) increased by 12 and 9% for men and women, respectively. The AO is related to higher odds for low RHGS (OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.23-2.41). In our sample of healthy adults, a higher AO was associated with a lower muscle strength measured by dynamometry.

Infant Feeding and Information Sources in Chilean Families Who Reported Baby-Led Weaning as a Complementary Feeding Method.

Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) is a new and emerging method of introducing complementary feeding in solid consistency, without the use of a spoon and entirely guided by the baby. This study aims to analyze the implementation of the BLW approach in relation to compliance with basic components and sources of information in Chilean families. Using a cross-sectional design, we assessed early nutrition, including breastfeeding and foods offered, maternal/child characteristics and sources of information on BLW among a non-probabilistic sample of mothers of children <24 months who reported practicing BLW (n = 261, median age = 28 years) in Chile. We found that 57.5% of mothers reported their child ate the same food as the family, 44.1% shared ≥3 meals with the family, 84.7% offered ≥3 foods at each meal and 75.6% reported only occasionally offering food with a spoon. The majority reported obtaining information on BLW from social media (82%). Moreover, 56% had offered cookies, 32% added salt and 9% sugar in the first 2 years. Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months related to higher odds of consuming family foods (OR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.24-4.84), while having received information from professional sources and social media related to lower odds (OR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.22-0.88 and OR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.15-0.66, respectively). Those who had appropriate weight gain had lower odds of consuming ≥3 foods in meals (OR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.13-0.96). Among mothers who reported practicing BLW with their children, we observed a wide variety of feeding habits, sources of information and low compliance with the studied components. Eating the same food as the family was the most prevalent component and social media was the main source of information on BLW.

Lifestyle Habits and Health Indicators in Migrants and Native Schoolchildren in Chile.

In Chile, the migrant population has increased in the last years. Migrants adopt behaviors of this new culture, which can have an effect on their health. Contradictory results regarding differences between migrant and native children have been reported. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between nationality with health indicator and lifestyle habits among schoolchildren in Chile. A cross-sectional and observational study with a non-probabilistic sample was conducted in 1033 children (86.4% Chilean and 13.6% migrant) from second to fourth grade of seven public schools from low-income municipalities from the Metropolitan Region, Chile. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference, triceps and subscapular folds), handgrip strength, and standing long jump measurements, physical activity, self-esteem and food guidelines accomplishments were determined. Migrant children presented lower body mass index (BMI), Z-BMI, body fat% and waist circumference values; and higher handgrip strength, standing long jump, and more satisfactory compliance with food guidelines than natives (p < 0.05). No significant difference for physical activity and self-esteem was observed. In the adjusted models, migrants presented lower odds for overweight/obesity, risk of abdominal obesity, low handgrip strength and unsatisfactory food guidelines accomplishment in all models (p < 0.05). The nutritional and muscular fitness of migrant children was better than that of the Chilean ones.

Changes in Nutrient Declaration after the Food Labeling and Advertising Law in Chile: A Longitudinal Approach.

Chile has implemented several strategies to decrease the burden of obesity and chronic diseases. The Food Labeling and Advertising Law (Law 20.606) requires a front-of-package "high in" warning label when energy and nutrients of concern (ENC) (total sugar, saturated fats, sodium) exceed established limits. This study aims to evaluate the impact of Law 20.606 on the ENC declaration of packaged foods in Chile, before and after the law implementation. We analyzed food nutritional labeling declarations from 70% of the most consumed packaged foods in Chile. Data collection was conducted in 2013 and 2019 in Santiago. Pictures from all sides of the package were taken from 476 products, classified into 16 food groups. All food groups had changes in the ENC declaration during the study period. Total sugar content showed the highest reduction (-15.0%; p = 0.001). Dairy, confitures and similar and sugary beverages had the greatest reduction in energy and total sugar content (p < 0.01). Energy, total sugar and sodium front of package "high in" simulation was significantly reduced in dairy, sugary beverages, flour-based foods, confitures and similar, fish and seafoods, fats and oils, spices, condiments and sauces and sugars (p < 0.05). We observed that companies reformulated products to adapt to the new regulation.

Dietary Patterns of Breakfast Consumption Among Chilean University Students.

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. A good quality breakfast must include dairy products, cereals, and fruits. The aim of this study is to determine breakfast dietary patterns and their nutritional quality among Chilean university students. A cross-sectional non-probabilistic study was conducted in 200 university students between 18 and 27 years in Santiago, Chile. To identify dietary patterns and breakfast quality, a breakfast food survey was conducted. Patterns were identified by factor analysis. Most of the subjects (53%) ate breakfast daily, with a higher prevalence among females (60.2% vs. 43.7%, p < 0.05); 68% did not consume fruits and 17.5% had good breakfast quality, with no differences by sex. Four breakfast dietary patterns were identified: "dairy & cereals", "healthy", "traditional salty" and "traditional sweet" that together explained 35.6% of the total variance. There was no sex difference in predominant dietary patterns. The "dairy & cereals" and "traditional sweet" patterns were associated with regularly eating breakfast (ß: -0.47, p = 0.001; ß: -0.32, p = 0.020) and the "healthy" pattern with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 (ß: 0.35, p = 0.024). In conclusion, breakfast quality was inadequate due to low fruit consumption and energy intake. The four identified patterns included cereals, bread, dairy, fats and sugars. Results may be usual in the planning of future interventions aimed at improving breakfast consumption and quality in university students.