Food insecurity is associated with glycemic markers, and socioeconomic status and low-cost diets are associated with lipid metabolism in Mexican mothers

The association between socioeconomic status (SES) and chronic disease has recently become more evident in middle- and low-income countries. We hypothesized that poor socioeconomic conditions, such as food insecurity, low educational level, or low SES, may restrict access to a healthy diet and may be associated with cardiometabolic risk independently of body fat. This study examined the relation between socioeconomic indicators, body fat, and cardiometabolic disease risk markers in a random sample of mothers living in Queretaro, Mexico. Young and middle-aged mothers ( n  = 321) answered validated questionnaires to determine SES, food insecurity, and educational level and a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire to determine dietary patterns and the cost of individual diet. Clinical measurements included anthropometry, blood pressure, lipids profile, glucose, and insulin. Obesity was present in 29% of the participants. Women with moderate food insecurity had higher waist circumference, glucose, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance than women with food security. High triglyceride concentration and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with lower SES and lower educational level. Women who consumed a lower carbohydrate diet had higher SES, higher education, and better cardiovascular risk markers. The higher carbohydrate diet profile was the least expensive diet. There was an inverse association between the cost and energy-density of foods. In conclusion, food insecurity was associated with glycemic control markers, and lower SES and education were related to a low-cost, higher carbohydrate diet and to a greater cardiovascular risk. The influence of the social environment on obesity and cardiovascular diseases needs to be further explored.