title: Dietetic characteristics of a sample of Mayan dual burden households in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
abstract: The Maya are the most populous and shortest in stature Native American ethnic group. The Maya provide us a good opportunity to study the dietetic characteristics of a group who experience nutritional dual burden (the combination of under and ovenutrition) at the individual, mother-child dyad and population level. The aim of this study is to describe general dietetic patterns of a sample of Maya mothers and children who experienced nutritional dual burden and were living in the city of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. From February to July 2010 we applied food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) to 58 dyads of Maya mothers and their children (7-9 years old). The FFQ was developed by staff of the Department of Human Ecology at Cinvestav and included 78 foods, grouped in: cereals and tubers, foods of animal origin, leguminous vegetables, fats, fruits, vegetables, sugars, and daily products. The frequencies of consumption were classified in four levels: 1) no consumption, 2) low (1-2 days/week), 3) medium (3-4 days/week), high (5-7 days/week). The observed pattern suggests a low consumption of fruits and vegetables, a medium consumption of pork, eggs, oil and lard, and a high consumption of soda and whole milk. From these frequencies we extrapolated that the dietetic pattern is characterized by a low intake of fibre and micronutrients and high intake of fat and sugars, findings supported by previous National and regional studies. Our observations suggest that the studied group have a dietetic pattern that has moved away from a traditional Maya diet.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Azcorra
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bogin
authors.forename: Maria Inês
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Varela-Silva
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Vázquez
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dickinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003611:Dairy Products; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002523:Edible Grain; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008460:Meat; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates