Relación entre la composición corporal y la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea en los afiliados del IESS con Hipertensión Arterial

Abstract

Abstract: High blood pressure (hypertension) affects 20% of the population over 19 years of age in Ecuador, constituting a public health problem related to serious cardiovascular complications. This study analyzed the relationship between body composition and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in 52 people with high blood pressure enrolled in the preventive medicine program of the Loja Central Day Hospital IEES. Using a cross-sectional and observational design, sociodemographic, anthropometric, and dietary variables were evaluated. The results indicated that good adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a more favorable body composition, characterized by a lower percentage of body fat and a reduced abdominal circumference. The study concluded that the Mediterranean diet is a promising tool for the prevention and management of hypertension, highlighting the importance of implementing individualized nutritional education programs in the future for members with high blood pressure, in order to promote healthy habits and improve their quality of life.