Geographic variation in the growth status of indigenous school children and youth in Mexico

Nutritional status and masticatory function of the indigenous compared with non-indigenous people of Nayarit, Mexico

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare the nutritional statuses and masticatory function of the non-indigenous and indigenous adult people of the state of Nayarit, Mexico.

DESIGN

Forty-two indigenous (Cora or Huichol ethnic group) and 100 non-indigenous people, all adults with natural dentition, participated in this cross-sectional study. They performed a free-style masticatory test consisting five trials of chewing silicon pieces for 20 cycles. Masticatory performance was determined by sieving the silicon particles, masticatory laterality was determined by calculating the asymmetry index, and the cycle duration was also recorded. Weight and body fat mass were measured using a portable digital weighing machine and height and body circumferences were recorded to calculate the body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and the waist-hip ratio. Each aspect of masticatory function and each nutritional variable were compared using T-test, analysis of variance, and Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney tests, as appropriate.

RESULTS

Body fat percentage, BMI, and waist-hip ratio were higher (P < 0.0005) in the indigenous group compared to the non-indigenous. The indigenous group had a significantly shorter stature than the non-indigenous group. Cora group had a higher BMI and higher percentage of body fat than the Huichol group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were detected between the groups for any aspect of masticatory function.

CONCLUSIONS

Indigenous people from the Nayarit, especially the Cora ethnic group, are more obese, have more total body fat, and more abdominal fat than non-indigenous people. Indigenous people show similar masticatory function.

Thinness, overweight, and obesity in indigenous school children and youth in Mexico

Background: The prevalence of overweight (OWT) and obesity (OB), defined by the body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) among children and youth has increased worldwide in the last 30-40 years.Aim: To evaluate the weight status, defined by the BMI, of indigenous school children and youth resident in different regions of MexicoSubjects and methods: Students 6-18 years (31,448 boys, 27,306 girls) were enrolled in bilingual schools for indigenous children and youth in Mexico in 2012. Height and weight were measured; the BMI was calculated. The BMI of each student was classified relative to International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) age- and sex-specific criteria as thin (three grades), normal, overweight (OWT) or obese (OB). The sample was divided into five geographic regions for analysis: North, Central, South-Gulf, South-Pacific, and South-Southeast. Age- and sex-specific prevalence, 95% confidence intervals, and Chi-square tests were calculated.Results: Prevalence of OWT + OB was highest in the South-Gulf, South-Pacific and South-Southeast regions and lowest in the North and Central regions, while thinness was most prevalent in the North and Central regions.Conclusion: Prevalence of severe and moderate thinness was relatively low, while the combined prevalence of OWT + OB was generally more prevalent in indigenous boys than girls. However, the prevalence of thinness, OWT + OB among indigenous children and youth was lower than in the general population of children and youth in Mexico.