Frequency of consumption of dairy products and derivatives and anthropometric indicators in adults from Lima-Peru

Introduction: Calcium intake is important in the diet and dairy products provide this nutrient, but it is unknown which dairy foods or derivatives are related to weight gain or loss in adults. Objective: Identify the relationship between the frequency of consumption of dairy products and derivatives with anthropometric indicators in adults from Lima-Peru. Materials and Methods: The research was non-experimental, cross-sectional correlational, consisting of 210 adults from 30 to 59 years old. The frequency of consumption during the last 3 months of dairy products and derivatives will be determined using slides of the labels of dairy products and derivatives to recognize the types of products that differ in nutrient concentrations and types of processing and the indicators will be evaluated. Anthropometric measurements such as weight (kg), height (cm), hip circumference, waist, and BMI (kg/m2) and waist-hip index (cm) were calculated. Spearman's statistical test was used. Results: 71.4% of adults consumed reconstituted evaporated milk with a frequency of 1 to 2 times per week and 65.2% consumed fresh cheese 1 to 2 times per week. The BMI of adults corresponds to 71.9% of the population who were overweight and 12.9% obese. A direct relationship was found with fresh milk and WHR (p=0.006), chocolate milk with WHR (p=0.003), BMI (p=0.021), waist circumference (p=0.038); fruity yogurt with weight (p=0.017); fresh cheese with waist circumference (p=0.024), hip circumference (p=0.022); Edam cheese and BMI (p=0.044), butter with hip circumference (p=0.049). An inverse relationship was found with natural yogurt with weight (p=0.009) and hip circumference (p=0.004); Greek yogurt with weight (p=0.021), BMI (p=0.005), waist circumference (p=0.012) and WHR (p=0.002). Conclusion: A significant relationship was found between dairy products and derivatives with anthropometric indicators.