Abstract

ZAPATA, María Elisa; MORATAL, Ibañez Laura  and  LOPEZ, Laura Beatriz. Diet quality according to the Healthy Eating Index: Analysis in the adult population of Rosario City, Argentina . Diaeta [online]. 2020, vol.38, n.170, pp.08-15. ISSN 1852-7337.

Introduction: The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was developed based on the recommendations of the dietary guidelines for the American population and is useful to identify food groups that have lower consumption in relation to recommendations and population groups with low diet quality. Objective: To estimate the quality of the diet in the adult population of the city of Rosario, and to identify its relationship with sociodemographic, anthropometric indicators and lifestyle variables. Materials and Methods: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional research of a stratified sample of 1200 adults aged 18 to 70 years. The updated methodology of HEI 2010 was used, based on the information obtained from the 24-hour recall. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic variables and tobacco consumption, alcohol consumption was assessed by frequency of consumption, anthropometric measurements were measured and physical activity was assessed with the IPAQ questionnaire. The associations were evaluated by Chi square test and the difference of means by Anova (p<0,05). Results: The average age of adults evaluated was 39±15 years, 69% were women, 32% had completed tertiary studies or more, 56% with BMI≥25 kg/m², 34% had risk according to waist circumference, 54% realized <150 min/week of physical activity, 67% consumed alcohol and 26% were current smokers. The HEI reached an average of 48.5±15.1 points, the values farthest from the ideal were found in fish, shellfish and vegetable proteins (0.7/5); whole grains (1.5/10); refined grains and cereals (2/10); fruit (1.7/5); green vegetables and legumes (1.7/5); fatty acids (3.7/10) and dairy (4.3/10). The 58.6% had a poor quality diet (HEI <50). In men (p<0,05), young adults (p<0,01), those with a lower educational level (p<0,01), individuals who perform <150 minutes per week of moderate or intense physical activity (p<0,01) and those who smoke have observed a less healthy diet (p<0,01). Conclusion: The diet of the studied population shows unhealthy characteristics. The identification of groups of greater risk will allow to orient better the educative and sanitary actions tending to modify styles of life and alimentary habits.

Keywords : Quality of diet; Healthy eating index; Adults; Rosario.

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