A study of the nutritional status and food habits of Otomi Indians in the Mezquital Valley of Mexico.

Abstract

HIS is a report of a nutrition study in four Otomi Indian villages in the Mezquital Valley of Mexico, two of which were surveyed from October to December of 1943, and the others in March to September of 1944. The Mezquital Valley lies 60 to 120 miles to the north of Mexico City and is traversed by the Pan-American Highway. The four villages lie in the southern end of the valley about 75 miles from Mexico City. The people are predominantly Indian, although some mixture with white blood is apparent. Most historians believe that the Otomi Indians were originally inhabitants of the valley of Mexico, the site of the present City of Mexico, but were driven into the surrounding areas by successive Indian invasions ending with that of the Aztecs. In the main they still cling to their native customs in spite of the Spanish influence dating back to the first half of the 16th century. Otomi is the chief language, although in the first two villages, close to a town-of about 3,500 population,