Economic and demographic predictors of dietary variation and nutritional indicators in Nicaragua

Objectives We measured carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios in a contemporary population, and tested how the isotopic variability relates to measures of socioeconomic status (e.g., household wealth) and anthropometric measures (e.g., standardized height‐for‐age and weight‐for‐age z‐scores). Methods Hair samples from individuals living in the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve in Nicaragua were analyzed for δ13C and δ15N, and these data were examined in relation to individual (e.g., age, sex, anthropometrics) and household (e.g., household size, wealth) variables. Results We found through mixed‐effects modeling that δ13C and δ15N varied predictably with individual age and household wealth. δ13C and δ15N did not, however, improve models predicting variation in individual anthropometric measures. Conclusion These results indicate that, although there is a relationship between diet (δ13C and δ15N) and socioeconomic variables, these dietary differences are not the main cause of health differences in this population.