Relationship between food security, dietary diversity, nutrient adequacy and body composition of farmers in South East, Nigeria

Abstract

Excess weight (overweight and obesity) is on the rise and is mainly linked to unhealthy diets. To cope with rising food inflation, individuals often resort to cheap energy-dense foods. The cross-sectional descriptive study examined the relationship between food security, dietary diversity, nutrient adequacy and body composition of farmers in Southeast, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling was used to select participants, and Pearson correlation was used to determine relationships. International Business Machine Statistical Package version 25 was used for the statistical analysis, and significant levels were judged at p 5. The linear relationship between food insecurity experience scale scores showed a weak but significant negative relationship with total body water (r=-0.26, p=0.000). A weak positive significant relationship existed between dietary diversity scores and muscle mass (r=.06, p=0.036). But mean adequacy ratios exhibited strong and weak positive relationships with body water (r=0.12, P=0.000) and body muscle mass (r=0.08, P=0.005), respectively. Positive significant (r=0.57, p=0=0.000) relationship existed between weight and BMI and that between weight and visceral fat was weak positive and significant (r=0.42, p=0.000), as well as weight and body water (r=0.36, p=0.000). Relationship between Weight and BMM was weak negative and significant (r=-14, p=0.000). A strong positive significant (r=.70, p=0.000) relationship was noted between BMI and body fat, while that between BMI and BMM was moderate negative and significant (r=-0.48, p=0.000). Body fat and visceral fat were moderately positive and significant (r=.48, p=0.000), and for body fat and BMM, it was strongly negative and significant (r=-80, p=0.000). This shows that nutrient-dense foods can improve nutrient intakes, which subsequently improve health. Thus, strategies to improve food security, dietary diversity and nutrient adequacy should be implemented for optimum nutrition and health of the farmers and the entire populace at large.