(P24-015-23) The Household Food Environment Differs Among Latina Sub-Groups at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

Objectives: There are limited studies among Latinas at risk for T2D focusing on the home food environment. The objective of this study is to determine if the accessibility of healthy and unhealthy foods differs by Latina sub-group.

Methods: We conducted a preliminary cross-sectional analyses of baseline data (N=75) of the ongoing longitudinal Food Insecurity Monthly Cycling and Diabetes Risk (FIC) study. Latinas were classified into Puerto Rican and non-Puerto Rican Latinas. Fulkerson’s Home Food Inventory was used to document the availability of food items. Participants completed the checklist format with yes/no response options via a secure web browser connection. To evaluate whether Latina sub-groups differed on the obesogenic home availability score, a summative score was created. Higher scores indicated a more obesogenic home environment. Similarly, the sub-scales of fruits and vegetables were used to calculate a summative score. Between-group differences were assessed using ANCOVA.

Results: Participants were at risk for T2D with a mean age of 35 ± 6, 58% were not working, 57% were single, and 71% had high school or less educational attainment. Puerto Rican Latinas represented 56% (n=42) of the sample whereas non-Puerto Rican Latinas represented 44% (n=33) and included women from Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Further, 51% (n=38) were classified as food secure and 49% (n=36) as food insecure. There were no significant differences between Latino sub-groups on age, income, employment status, or food security status. Non-Puerto Latinas were more likely to report living with a partner and having less than high school education. Puerto Rican-Latinas had higher obesogenic home food availability scores, mean 34 ± 7 than Non-Puerto Rican Latinas (25 ± 7), p< .001. Puerto Ricans had lower vegetable scores (12 ± 5) than Non-Puerto Rican Latinas (15 ± 4) p=.040. Differences remained significant after adjusting for education and marital status.

Conclusions: Puerto Rican Latinas showed a more obesogenic home food environment with fewer vegetables than other Latinas. Different approaches may be needed to improve the nutritional quality of foods available in households from different Latina sub-groups to mitigate risk for T2D. 

Funding Sources: This work is supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R21).