Energy and nutrients intake, poverty and residence location of adult population in Peru.

Abstract

Introduction: Overweight and obesity have increased in middle income countries like Peru. For this situation it has
been demonstrated that nutrient intake is a key determinant.
Objective: Define energy and nutrient intake of Peruvian adults in relation to their residence location and poverty situation.
Method: Information was considered from 4206 adults older than 20 years, including 2107 female and 2099 male. Five residence locations were defined: Lima city, Coast not including Lima, Andes urban, and Andes rural and Amazonian. Poverty situation was defined using the index of unsatisfied basic needs. Nutrient intake was determined by a 24 hour dietary recall. FAO/WHO adequacy ranges were used for classification. Analysis of variance and Tukey comparison test was used for statistical assessment.
Results: Average intake of energy (1619 kcal/day) was only 78.7 % of recommended values. Iron, Folic acid and Calcium were less than 75 % of recommended values. Residence location and poverty situation affected energy and nutrients intake (p<0,005). Carbohydrates represented the largest percentage of total energy intake for rural Andes population and those of the extreme poverty group.

Conclusions: Energy intake was below required. Adults of rural Andes and extreme poverty ones reported high intake of carbohydrates and low for protein and fat. This study contributes to understand dietarian factors explaining overweight incidence.