Food Insecurity Is Associated with Undernutrition but Not Overnutrition in Ecuadorian Women from Low-Income Urban Neighborhoods
Table 3
Variation across and within food groups during the past 12 months: comparison by household food security status ().
Food secure ()
Low food security ()
Very low food security ()
ANOVA value
ANCOVA value
Mean ± SD
Adjusted mean
Mean ± SD
Adjusted mean
Mean ± SD
Adjusted mean
Variation across food groups
Average number of food groups consumed
11.4 ± 0.8
11.4
11.4 ± 0.7
11.4
11.2 ± 1.0
11.2
0.001
0.003
Variation within food groups
Average number of foods consumed within groups
Vegetable group foods
8.5 ± 2.3
8.6
7.7 ± 2.6
7.7
7.3 ± 2.7
7.2
0.0001
0.0001
Fruit group foods
8.6 ± 3.0
8.6
7.9 ± 2.7
7.9
6.4 ± 3.4
6.4
0.0001
0.0001
Meat group foods
3.5 ± 1.3
3.4
3.2 ± 1.3
3.2
2.6 ± 1.3
2.7
0.0001
0.0001
Fish & seafood group foods
1.9 ± 1.0
1.9
1.7 ± 0.9
1.7
1.4 ± 0.8
1.4
0.0001
0.0001
Milk & milk products group foods
2.9 ± 0.8
2.9
2.8 + 0.8
2.8
2.2 ± 1.1
2.2
0.0001
0.0001
Legumes, nuts & seeds group foods
1.9 ± 0.8
1.9
1.7 ± 0.9
1.8
1.6 ± 0.9
1.5
0.0001
0.0001
Cereals group foods
5.4 ± 1.5
5.4
5.3 ± 1.4
5.3
5.1 ± 1.6
5.4
0.22
0.18
White tubers & roots group foods
4.5 ± 1.4
4.6
4.4 ± 1.5
4.4
4.1 ± 1.5
4.0
0.005
0.0001
Oils & fats group foods
2.2 ± 1.1
2.1
2.0 ± 1.1
2.0
1.8 ± 1.1
1.9
0.002
0.17
Sweets group foods
2.3 ± 1.4
2.2
2.5 ± 1.4
2.4
2.1 ± 1.3
2.1
0.0001
0.002
Eggs group
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Fried & salty snack group foods
1.7 ± 1.1
1.6
1.7 ± 1.1
1.7
1.6 ± 1.1
1.6
0.35
0.68
Total number of different foods consumed
43.8 ± 9.2
43.3
41.2 ± 9.0
41.2
36.4 ± 10.6
36.6
0.0001
0.0001
Number of micronutrient-rich foods consumed
Retinol precursor carotenoid foods
4.3 ± 1.6
4.3
3.9 ± 1.5
3.9
3.5 ± 1.6
3.5
0.0001
0.0001
Retinol foods
3.9 ± 0.9
3.8
3.8 ± 0.9
3.8
3.2 ± 1.2
3.2
0.0001
0.0001
Heme iron foods
5.4 ± 1.8
5.3
4.9 ± 1.7
4.8
4.0 ± 1.8
4.1
0.0001
0.0001
Number of animal protein foods consumed
9.3 ± 2.3
9.1
8.6 ± 2.2
8.6
7.2 ± 2.5
7.3
0.0001
0.0001
Analyses adjusted for household per capita income, age, education, length of residence in current neighborhood, neighborhood location, and data collection year. Eggs group contained only one food item (chicken eggs). Retinol precursor carotenoid key foods (dark leafy green vegetables, other vegetables, tubers, and vitamin A-rich fruits). Retinol key foods (egg yolks, milk/milk products). Heme iron key foods (flesh meats, fish/seafood). Animal protein food (flesh meats, fish/seafood, eggs, and milk/milk products).
