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Comparison of Dietary Quality Among Puerto Ricans Living in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico

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Abstract

Puerto Ricans are burdened by nutrition-related diseases, with greater disease prevalence among Puerto Ricans residing in the continental U.S. compared to those in Puerto Rico (PR). However, little is known about diet quality of these two groups. To compare diet quality of Puerto Ricans in Massachusetts (MA) and PR. Puerto Rican patients from health centers in MA (n = 42) and PR (n = 52) completed a food frequency questionnaire. Diet quality was assessed with the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI). Analysis included Mann–Whitney, Chi square and logistic and quantile regressions. 57.1 % of participants in MA and 19.6 % in PR had a poor diet. Adjusting for age and education, participants in MA were more likely to have a poor diet (OR 3.4; p = 0.02) and lower HEI scores than participants in PR. Diet quality among Puerto Ricans is poor, and is worse among mainland Puerto Ricans compared to islanders.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH085653-04), Ponce Health Sciences University Seed Program, National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (5 P60 MD006912-03), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1 U48 DP005031-01). We acknowledge the contributions of our community partners and organizations who made this research possible: Lawrence Mayor’s Health Task Force, the Lawrence Senior Center, the YWCA, the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Polyclinic Morell Campos and Glenview, Polyclinic Ana Beuchamp, Dr. Magraner’s clinic and our University of Massachusetts Medical School and Ponce Health Sciences University colleagues, students and staff.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition Program, Graduate School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR, 00936-5067, USA

    Andrea Lopez-Cepero, Alexandra Valencia & Cristina Palacios

  2. Psychology Program, Ponce Health Sciences University, PO Box 7004, Ponce, PR, 00732, USA

    Julio Jimenez

  3. Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA

    Stephenie C. Lemon & Milagros C. Rosal

Authors
  1. Andrea Lopez-Cepero
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  2. Alexandra Valencia
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  3. Julio Jimenez
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  4. Stephenie C. Lemon
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  5. Cristina Palacios
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  6. Milagros C. Rosal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Milagros C. Rosal.

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Lopez-Cepero, A., Valencia, A., Jimenez, J. et al. Comparison of Dietary Quality Among Puerto Ricans Living in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico. J Immigrant Minority Health 19, 494–498 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0480-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0480-5

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