Comparison of foodconsumption in children living in an urban area and a rural population in Arandas, Mexico

The objective of this study was to compare the habitual food intake of children in urban and rural areas in the town of Arandas, Mexico. In a cross-sectional study 196 children from five to twelveyears, attending preschool and school education were included. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were collected, as well as food consumption using two dietary surveys of 24-hour recall and a food frequency consumption questionnaire. General and food consumption characteristics among children from rural and urban areas were compared with Student t test and chi square. The number of members per household was higher in rural areathan in urban area, while household income and expenditure on food was higher in urban area. There were no differences in the distribution of BMI, height for age index, or the consumption of energy and nutrients between urban and rural area. The consumption of fruits and animal products was more frequent in urban area, while cereals and legumes were more common in rural area. There are differences in food intakein these populations, with increased consumption of foods considered traditional in rural area, and animal foods in urban area. It is important to identify these differences in view of the currentnutritional and epidemiologicaltransition of the Mexican population.