A study of nutritional status and dietary habits among schoolchildren from different indigenous communities within the municipality of Ixhuatlan de Madero, State of Veracruz (Mexico)

Mexico is currently immersed in a context of social and nutritional transition with important consequences for the general population. This study aimed to analyze the nutritional status of indigenous Mexican school children, depending on their gender, age and indigenous community. We also wished to analyze their eating habits. A cross-sectional study performed on 230 school children (7-12 years of age), recruited from six indigenous communities in Mexico. Weight, standing height, sitting height, and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects were evaluated. To assess their eating habits, the subjects also participated in a semi-structured interview and were asked to respond to a food frequency questionnaire. There were significant differences in standing height and sitting height in regard to age (p<0.05) though not in regard to gender. The 17.8% of the subjects had excess weight (overweight + obesity) with significant differences for age (p < 0.05). There was a higher percentage of excess weight among boys (20.3%) than among girls (14.8%). Our study also detected an association (p = 0.005) between nutritional status and indigenous community. The eating habits of the children were characterized by a high daily ingestion of carbohydrates in the form of soft drinks (70.8%) and fat from fried foods (78.7%). There is a growing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the child population in the more isolated indigenous communities, whose food supply directly depends on access to grocery stores at each location.