Unhealthy and Unequal: Socioeconomic Vulnerability Shapes Dietary Quality in Children and Adolescents from Spain.

Socioeconomic vulnerability was significantly associated with female sex, higher BMI, lower adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, and greater consumption of ultra-processed foods in multivariate analysis.

• Multivariate analysis confirmed independent associations between socioeconomic vulnerability and each of these outcomes.
• The study included 280 participants aged 6 to 15 years, divided into a vulnerable group (VG, n=175) and a non-vulnerable group (NVG, n=105).
• Classification into groups was based on socioeconomic and social established criteria.
• The association with female sex suggests sex differences play a role in how vulnerability shapes dietary outcomes.

Vulnerable children and adolescents demonstrated lower global dietary quality compared to the non-vulnerable group.

• Lower dietary quality in the vulnerable group was characterized by reduced adherence to the Mediterranean Diet.
• Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) was also observed in the vulnerable group.
• Validated tools were used to assess diet quality, Mediterranean Diet adherence, and UPF consumption.
• The study was descriptive and cross-sectional in design.

Vulnerable children and adolescents showed higher prevalence of household food insecurity compared to the non-vulnerable group.

• Food insecurity was assessed using validated tools.
• Food insecurity was evaluated at the household level.
• Participants were recruited from urban areas across Spain.
• The vulnerable group comprised n=175 participants compared to n=105 in the non-vulnerable group.

Vulnerable children and adolescents showed less favorable body composition indicators, including higher BMI.

• BMI was calculated using both national and international reference standards.
• Anthropometric measurements were collected as part of the study protocol.
• Higher BMI was confirmed as significantly associated with socioeconomic vulnerability in multivariate analysis.
• Participants ranged in age from 6 to 15 years.

The study identified sex differences in the relationship between socioeconomic vulnerability and dietary and health outcomes, with female sex being associated with vulnerability in multivariate analysis.

• The study had a particular focus on sex differences as stated in the objectives.
• Female sex was identified as significantly associated with socioeconomic vulnerability in multivariate analysis.
• The authors concluded there is a need for public health strategies 'targeted by gender.'
• This finding suggests that girls in vulnerable settings may face compounded disadvantages regarding dietary quality and health.

The study population was recruited from urban areas across Spain and comprised children and adolescents aged 6 to 15 years old.

• Total sample size was 280 participants.
• The vulnerable group (VG) included n=175 participants and the non-vulnerable group (NVG) included n=105 participants.
• The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional.
• Validated tools were used to assess diet quality, Mediterranean Diet adherence, UPF consumption, and household food insecurity.