Journal article
Hypertension among Guatemalan women: the role of food insecurity and overweight/obesity
Frontiers in nutrition (Lausanne), v 13, 1857055
01 Jun 2026
PMID: 42415909
Abstract
IntroductionFood insecurity (FI) and obesity are associated with cardiovascular risk markers such as hypertension, yet it remains unclear whether their coexistence increases hypertension risk beyond their independent contributions. We hypothesized that women experiencing both FI and OWT/OB (‘coexisting burden’) would have higher odds of hypertension, compared to those experiencing only OWT/OB, only FI, or neither. We aimed to examine the association of FI and overweight/obesity (OWT/OB) with hypertension and systolic blood pressure (SBP) among Guatemalan women of reproductive age (15–49 years).Materials and methodsData came from 1,538 women in Guatemala’s nationally representative 2018–2019 Health and Nutrition Epidemiological Surveillance System Survey (SIVESNU). A four-category exposure combined binary FI (assessed using the 8-item Food Insecurity Experience Scale) and OWT/OB status. SBP was measured and hypertension categorized using standard criteria. Multinomial logistic and linear regressions assessed associations with hypertension status and SBP, adjusting for covariates.ResultsParticipants had a mean age of 30 years; 76% experienced FI, 60% OWT/OB, 44% had both (‘coexisting burden’), and 32% had hypertension. Contrary to our hypothesis, associations were stronger among women with only OWT/OB (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.44–5.02) than among those with coexisting burden (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.01–3.31), compared to women with neither condition. No associations were found with pre-hypertension.ConclusionOverall, OWT/OB, with or without FI, was associated with higher odds of hypertension, underscoring the need for community- and person-level interventions supporting healthier body weight.
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Details
- Title
- Hypertension among Guatemalan women: the role of food insecurity and overweight/obesity
- Creators
- Paola A. Arevalo (Corresponding Author) - Institute of Nutrition of Central America and PanamaMaría F. Kroker-Lobos - Institute of Nutrition of Central America and PanamaFélice Lê-Scherban - Drexel UniversityManuel Ramirez-Zea - Institute of Nutrition of Central America and PanamaKarla Mesarina - Presidency UniversityAmy H. Auchincloss - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in nutrition (Lausanne), v 13, 1857055
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Fogarty International Center's training program at the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH): D43TW011971
The author(s) declared that financial support was received for this work and/or its publication. The original surveillance system (SIVESNU) described in this manuscript received funding and/or in-kind office space, laboratory installations, or technical assistance from the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This work was supported by the Fogarty International Center's training program at the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) under the grant D43TW011971, with no role in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation of data, writing of the manuscript, or decision to submit the article for publication. The findings and conclusions in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the CDC, INCAP, USAID, UNICEF, or NIH.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Urban Health Collaborative; Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001813231200001
- Other Identifier
- 991022192024404721