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Economic and demographic predictors of dietary variation and nutritional indicators in Nicaragua
Author(s) -
Cooper Catherine G.,
Burns Jessica L.,
Koster Jeremy M.,
Perri Angela R.,
Richards Michael P.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.23125
Subject(s) - anthropometry , socioeconomic status , demography , population , geography , sociology , archaeology
Objectives We measured carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios in a contemporary population, and tested how the isotopic variability relates to measures of socioeconomic status (e.g., household wealth) and anthropometric measures (e.g., standardized height‐for‐age and weight‐for‐age z ‐scores). Methods Hair samples from individuals living in the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve in Nicaragua were analyzed for δ 13 C and δ 15 N, and these data were examined in relation to individual (e.g., age, sex, anthropometrics) and household (e.g., household size, wealth) variables. Results We found through mixed‐effects modeling that δ 13 C and δ 15 N varied predictably with individual age and household wealth. δ 13 C and δ 15 N did not, however, improve models predicting variation in individual anthropometric measures. Conclusion These results indicate that, although there is a relationship between diet (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) and socioeconomic variables, these dietary differences are not the main cause of health differences in this population.