Abstract

VALDES MASSO, Diana; VAZQUEZ SANCHEZ, Vanessa  and  RANGEL RIVERO, Armando. Changes in the frequency of food consumption and nutritional status in farmers of Yaguajay, central Cuba, 2017-2022. Rev Arg Antrop Biol [online]. 2023, vol.25, n.2, e069.  Epub June 30, 2023. ISSN 1514-7991.  http://dx.doi.org/10.24215/18536387e069.

Abstract The crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic affected the nutrition and general health status in the agricultural sector and its workforce. The objective of this research is to describe changes in food consumption frequency and nutritional status in 16 farmers from the rural community of La Picadora, taking into account that the impact of the economic and epidemiological situation may have produced changes during this period. A follow-up descriptive study was carried out between October 2017 and April 2022. This included interviews, food consumption frequency questionnaires, and anthropometric measurement. Discrete initial (2017) and final (2022) variables were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank statistical test and continuous variables were contrasted using the Student t test for paired samples. The differences were statistically significant regarding the decrease in the frequency of consumption of pasta, pork, organ meats, industrial soft drinks and sweets, and the increase in the frequency of consumption of vegetable fat. A trend of increased weight, body mass index, and waist circumference and decreased height was observed, with significant changes in height and waist circumference. Diet in 2022 was less diverse than in 2017. Changes in dietary pattern and lifestyles during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified as risk factors for increased central adiposity in normal-weight and overweight farmers. Anthropometric measurements proved useful in the assessment of nutritional status of rural agricultural populations. Rev Arg Antrop Biol 25(2), 2023. https://doi.org/10.24215/18536387e069

Keywords : diet; body mass index; waist circumference; general health.

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