Perceptions of the local food environment and fruit and vegetable intake in the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes research Network (ECHORN) Cohort study

Oladele, Carol; Colón‐Ramos, Uriyoán; Galusha, Deron; Tran, Emma; Adams, O Peter; Maharaj, Rohan G; Nazario, Cruz M.; Nunez, Maxine; Pérez‐Escamilla, Rafael; Nuñez-Smith, Marcella

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101694

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 47 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The heavy reliance on imported food in the Caribbean region threatens food security, defined as access to safe, sufficient and nutritious foods that meet food preferences and dietary needs ( 28 ) . High costs of imported food have led to decreased affordability of healthy foods especially among individuals experiencing food security ( 29 ) and are implicated in dietary intakes that are consequential for chronic disease. Changes in the food system and parallel increases in cardiometabolic conditions, like diabetes, are implicated in premature mortality, decreased economic productivity and decreased quality of life in the region ( 7 ) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and T2D diabetes in the Eastern Caribbean

Oladele

Galusha

Hassan

et al. 2023

Public Health Nutr.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are implicated in the increasing risk of diabetes in the Caribbean. Few studies have examined associations between SSB consumption and diabetes in the Caribbean. Design: SSB was measured as teaspoon/day using questions from the National Cancer Institute Dietary Screener Questionnaire about intake of soda, juice, and coffee/tea during the past month. Diabetes was measured using self-report, hemoglobin A1C, and use of medication. Logistic regression was used to examine associations. Setting: Baseline data from the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network Cohort Study (ECS), collected in Barbados, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and US Virgin Islands, was used for analysis. Participants: Participants (N=1701) enrolled in the ECS. Results: Thirty-six percent of participants were unaware of their diabetes, 33 percent aware, and 31 percent normoglycemic. Total mean intake of added sugar from SSB was higher among persons 40-49 (9.4 tsp/day), men, (9.2 tsp/day) and persons with low education (7.0 tsp/day/d). Participants who were unaware (7.4 tsp/day) or did not have diabetes (7.6 tsp/day) had higher mean SSB intake compared to those with known diabetes (5.6 tsp/day). In multivariate analysis, total added sugar from beverages was not significantly associated with diabetes status. Results by beverage type showed consumption of added sugar from soda was associated with greater odds of known (OR-1.37, CI=1.031.82) and unknown diabetes (OR=1.54, CI=1.12-2.13). Conclusions: Findings indicate the need for continued implementation and evaluation of policies and interventions to reduce SSB consumption in the Caribbean.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and T2D diabetes in the Eastern Caribbean

Oladele

Galusha

Hassan

et al. 2023

Public Health Nutr.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Our prior work in the Eastern Caribbean showed that affordability was a main determinant of fruit and vegetable consumption, which primarily affected individuals who experienced FI. 6 Increasing poverty due to weak economic markets and joblessness has also been correlated with higher rates of FI. 7 Extreme weather events due to climate change has affected food production and availability in the region, which in turn, has led to increased reliance on food imports.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food insecurity is associated with poor hypertension management in the Eastern Caribbean

Oladele,

Khandpur,

Galusha

et al. 2024

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Limited evidence exists on the association between food insecurity (FI) and blood pressure control in the Caribbean despite the high burden of both. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between FI and hypertension prevalence, awareness, and control in the Eastern Caribbean. Methods and Findings We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data (2013-2018) from the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network Cohort Study (n=2961). Food insecurity was measured using the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) and classified as 0=no FI, 1-6 mild/moderate FI, and 7-9 severe FI. Hypertension was defined by the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention. Logistic regression modeling was conducted to examine the relationship between FI and hypertension prevalence, awareness, and control, adjusting for age, sex, educational attainment, site, and usual source of care. Prevalence of FI was 28 percent among participants and was higher in Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago compared to other sites. Seventeen percent of the participants experienced low, 6 percent moderate, and 4 percent experienced severe FI. Aggregate model results showed no association between FI and hypertension outcomes. Sex-stratified results showed moderate (OR=2.65, CI=1.25-5.65) and severe FI (OR=3.69, CI=1.20-11.31) were positively associated with lack of control among women. Limitations of this study include the cross-sectional design, small sample size, and the average age of our cohort. Cross-sectional design precluded the ability to make inferences about temporality between FI and HTN prevalence and awareness. Small sample size precluded the ability to detect statistically significant differences despite strong odds ratios for model results like lack of control. Conclusions Findings align with prior evidence of greater FI prevalence among women and negative health impact. Nutrition policies are needed to reduce the overall FI burden in the Caribbean and increase access to affordable, nutritious foods.

show abstract

Perceptions of the local food environment and fruit and vegetable intake in the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes research Network (ECHORN) Cohort study

Cited by 2 publications

References 47 publications

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and T2D diabetes in the Eastern Caribbean

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and T2D diabetes in the Eastern Caribbean

Food insecurity is associated with poor hypertension management in the Eastern Caribbean

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About