How Well Do U.S. Hispanics Adhere to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans? Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Anna Maria Siega-Riz*, Nelson D. Pace, Nicole M. Butera, Linda Van Horn, Martha L. Daviglus, Lisa Harnack, Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Cheryl L. Rock, Rocio I. Pereira, Daniela Sotres-Alvarez

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To examine alignment between 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and dietary choices of individuals in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) between 2008 and 2011. Methods: Data are from 15,633 adults 18-74 years from the population-based cohort in HCHS/SOL. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2010 was used to measure diet quality. Means and standard errors (SEs) for the HEI total and each of the 12 component scores were calculated overall and by Hispanic/Latino heritage, sex, age group, and measures of acculturation. Linear regression was used to examine correlates of the HEI 2010 total score. All analyses accounted for complex survey design. Results: The overall HEI mean of 63.8 (SE: 0.4) varied across groups from a high (healthier diet) of 71 (SE: 0.9) among Mexicans to a low of 56 (SE: 0.1) among Puerto Ricans. The proportion with a maximum score for the HEI components varied across heritage groups; >25% of adults adhered to recommendations for total proteins, and seafood and plant proteins, whole fruits, and greens and beans, with the exception of Cubans and Puerto Ricans, who had lower adherence scores for the latter two. The components with the lowest adherence were sodium (<2%) and fatty acids (overall 7.4%) among all heritage groups. Characteristics associated with better adherence included sociodemographic variables, Spanish language preference, weight status, medical conditions, and lifestyle behaviors. Conclusions: Individuals with Mexican, Dominican, and Central American heritage had better overall dietary quality compared to other groups. However, all can improve their eating habits to align more with the DGAs by reducing sodium consumption and improving fatty acid ratios.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)319-327
Number of pages9
JournalHealth Equity
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Funding

The authors thank the staff and participants of HCHS/ SOL for their important contributions. The HCHS/ SOL (www.cscc.unc.edu/hchs/) was carried out as a collaborative study supported by contracts from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to the University of North Carolina (N01-HC65233), University of Miami (N01-HC65234), Albert Einstein College of Medicine (N01-HC65235), Northwestern University (N01-HC65236), and San Diego State University (N01-HC65237). The following Institutes/ Centers/Offices contribute to the HCHS/SOL through a transfer of funds to the NHLBI: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and NIH Institution-Office of Dietary Supplements. The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos was supported by contracts from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to the University of North Carolina (N01-HC65233), University of Miami (N01-HC65234), Albert Einstein College of Medicine (N01-HC65235), Northwestern University (N01-HC65236), and San Diego State University (N01-HC65237), and the dietary data collection was supported by DK56350.

Keywords

  • Dietary Guidelines
  • Hispanics
  • diet
  • healthy eating

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health(social science)
  • Health Information Management
  • Health Policy

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