Consumption of fruits and vegetables and anthropometric indicators in Peruvians over 18 years of age.

Abstract

Introduction: Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of morbidity. However, it has not been reported whether the consumption of preparations based on fruits and vegetables is related to weight gain and other anthropometric indicators.

Objective: Determine the relationship between the consumption of fruit and vegetable preparations and anthropometric indicators in Peruvians over 18 years of age.

Material and methods: The research design is quantitative, transversal, observational and descriptive approach. The sample was 2791 people over 18 years of age. The study is a secondary analysis of the National Demographic and Family Health Survey (2022) database. For statistical analysis, the Spearman Rho test was used to determine the relationship between the variables and the Mann-Whitney U test to determine if there are differences between the consumption of fruits and vegetables and anthropometric indicators according to sex. A significance level of p<0.05 was applied.

Results: 36.5% were men and 63.5% were women. With an average age was 36 years (SD=14.68). 43.5% were overweight and 28.1% obese. It was found that the greater the consumption in the amount of slices or bunches of fruit and portions of vegetable salads, the lower the abdominal circumference and BMI (p<0.05), likewise the greater the number of days of consuming fruit juice it will increase. abdominal perimeter and BMI (p=0.007). There are differences in men and women in relation to the number of days they consumed fruits, glasses of juice ingested, portions of fruit salad, days they ate vegetable salad, BMI and abdominal circumference (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The consumption of vegetable salad decreases the abdominal perimeter and BMI, while the intake of fruit juice increases the abdominal perimeter.