Inequalities in diet quality are increasingly reported, but such studies among Roma
are scarce and challenging. Here we attempt to examine diet quality and adherence
to food based dietary guidelines among Hungarian Roma (HR) ethnic minority living
in segregated settlements while comparing a sample of Hungarian adults from the general
population (HG). Data were obtained from a complex comparative health survey conducted
in Northeast Hungary in 2018, including sociodemographic and physical examination
data. Dietary data were collected using two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls.
We assessed diet quality based on using a 13-component Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015,
range 0–100). Differences in median intakes of food and nutrients and HEI-2015 scores
were evaluated by Mann–Whitney test or Kruskal–Wallis test. Quantile regression was
used to adjust HEI-2015 scores for socioeconomic factors including age, sex, educational
status, and perceived financial status. This analysis included 393 and 415 subjects,
aged between 18 to 70 years, of HR and HG populations, respectively. Results showed
overall low median HEI-2015 scores for both HR and HG, with significantly lower total
score among HR participants (41.6, interquartile range (IQR): 39.5–42.8) compared
to HG (47.2, IQR: 45.7–51.1). Scores for individual components, such as intake of
fruits, greens and beans, whole grains, seafood, and plant proteins were particularly
suboptimal among both groups, but significantly lower among the HR population. Scores
for refined grains, sodium, saturated fats and added sugar reflected high intakes
of these components but did not differ between study groups. Our findings revealed
an unfavorable diet quality among the HR compared to HG and a potentially increased
risk for diet-related NCDs. Future health intervention programs are warranted to address
dietary disparities of segregated minorities in Hungary while considering ethnic and
cultural differences.
