Current Food Consumption amongst the Spanish ANIBES Study Population

Abstract

Dietary habits amongst the Spanish population are currently a relevant cause for concern, as macronutrient profiles and micronutrient intakes seem to be inadequate and globally moving away from the traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern. However, recent food consumption patterns have not been fully assessed. In the present study, our aim was therefore to describe the current food consumption from the “anthropometric data, macronutrients and micronutrients intake, practice of physical activity, socioeconomic data and lifestyles in Spain” (ANIBES) study population by assessing data defined by age and gender. The ANIBES study is a cross-sectional study of a nationally representative sample of the Spanish population. A three-day dietary record was used to obtain information about food and beverage consumption. The sample comprised 2009 individuals aged 9–75 years, plus a boost sample for the youngest age groups (9–12, 13–17, and 18–24 years, n = 200 per age group). The most consumed food group across all age segments were non-alcoholic beverages followed by milk and dairy products and vegetables. Consumption of cereals and derivatives, milk and dairy products, sugars and sweets, and ready-to-eat meals by children was significantly higher than those by the adult and older adult populations (p ≤ 0.05). Conversely, intakes of vegetables, fruits, and fish and shellfish were significantly higher in adults and older adults (p ≤ 0.05). In order to comply with recommendations, adherence to the Mediterranean dietary patterns should be strengthened, especially amongst younger population groups. Therefore, substantial nutritional interventions may be targeted to improve the Spanish population’s dietary patterns nowadays.

Plate Waste Generated by Spanish Households and Out-of-Home Consumption: Results from the ANIBES Study

“…Nevertheless, in the current study, we found that vegetables (12%), ready-to-eat meals, cereals and grains, oils and fats, and pulses (10% each) were the main leftover constituents, while milk and dairy products and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages represented a much smaller proportion. These findings can be explained in part by the food consumption patterns we previously described from the ANIBES study population, where the vegetables group accounts for highest quantities (177.8 ± 112.9 g/day), only after milk and dairy products (257.2 ± 159.2) [45].…”

Energy Intake, Macronutrient Profile and Food Sources of Spanish Children Aged One to <10 Years—Results from the EsNuPI Study †

“…However, in our study, the percentages of misreporting were low compared with other national and international studies [18,22,28,75]. Misreporting of dietary intake is a major issue in dietary recall methods as the 24-h DR [21]. To mitigate this limitation, the Goldberg cut-offs method to identify the misreporters according to the EFSA recommendations was used in our study [31].…”

“…During the last decades, the children's lifestyles have changed, including dietary habits, a phenomenon called "nutritional transition"; this transition potentially changed the usual energy and macronutrient intakes in the children over the last years, having hypothetically negative consequences in the children's health [18][19][20]. Furthermore, in Spain, the most recent studies suggest that food patterns, energy and nutrient intakes have changed noticeably in the last forty years, differing somewhat at present from the traditional and healthy Mediterranean Diet [21][22][23][24]. This is one of the reasons that could explain why Spain is listed within the countries with more childhood obesity in Europe-40% of Spanish children already have overweight or obesity [25].…”

Food Sustainability Knowledge and Attitudes in the Spanish Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Most studies show that when talking about changing eating habits to reduce the impact on the environment, the idea of reducing meat consumption is the least accepted by the population [ 32 , 45 ]. In Spain, the intake of meat and meat products is about 47–53 kg/year per capita [ 46 , 47 ]. It is higher in men than in women, and it accounts as the second largest source of energy in the population’s diet, providing 15.2% of total energy intake [ 48 ].…”

“…Whether or not we should decrease the intake of fish to improve sustainability is a matter of debate [ 55 ], but moving into conscious purchasing and looking for fish from sustainable fisheries, is well evidence based recommendations if we want to move to more sustainable food habits [ 56 ]. The consumption of fish in Spain is about 23 kg/person a year, the second highest world consumption [ 47 ]. However, this consumption is slowly decreasing and has fallen by 2.2% in 2018, mainly in the younger groups of the population [ 46 ].…”