Factors associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables in latin american university students

Saavedra-Clarke S.; Araneda-Flores J.; Parra-Soto S.; Mauricio-Alza S.; Morales G.; Landaeta-Díaz L.; Gómez G.; Murillo G.; Carpio-Arias T.V.; Nuñez-Martínez B.E.; Meza-Miranda E.; Bejarano-Rocancio J.J.; Nava-Gonzalez E.J.; Cavagnari B.; Cordón-Arrivillaga K.; Ríos-Castillo I.; Durán-Agüero S. · Revista Chilena de Nutricion (2023) · DOI: 10.4067/s0717-75182023000600654

Resumen

Objective: Explore the association between compliance with recommended consumption (5-a-day) of fruits and vegetables (F&V) with sociodemographic factors of university students of Latin America.Subjects: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study in which 4,880 university students from 10 Latin American countries completed a self-administered online survey. Methods: F&V consumption and other sociodemographic variables were measured according to a validated survey. Body mass index was self-reported. Ordinal logistic regression models were applied. Results: Regarding the consumption of F&V, 4.7% of men complied with the recommendation, while in women this value reached 7.7%. In the adjusted model, having a normal weight (OR= 0.59; 95% CI 0.44-0.7; p=<0.001), being female (OR= 0.67; 95% CI 0.49-0.89; p=<0.01), being enrolled in a health-related degree program (OR= 0,60; IC95% 0,45-0,78; p<0.001), having professional parents (OR= 0.75; 95% CI 0.60-0.95; p=<0.05) and practicing physical activity (OR= 0.34; 95% CI 0.27-0.42; p=<0.001) were associated with compliance to F&V consumption recommendations. In the analysis by country, physical activity was the variable most associated with F&V consumption. Conclusion: We observed a low consumption of F&V in university students. The variables associated with compliance to the F&V recommendation were being normal weight, female, being enrolled in a health-related degree program, having professional parents, and practicing physical activity, the latter being the most important variable.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener