Trends in dietary habits and food consumption in Catalonia, Spain (1992–2003)

Abstract

Objective: To analyse trends in food habits and food consumption from 1992 to 2003. Design: Two consecutive cross-sectional nutrition surveys were carried out on random samples of the Catalan population (Evaluation of Nutritional Status in Catalonia (ENCAT) 1992-93 and ENCAT 2002-03). Dietary intake was assessed by means of two 24-hour recalls on non-consecutive days and a food frequency questionnaire was used to ascertain tendencies in the frequency of food consumption. Setting: Catalonia region, Northeastern Spain. Results: The trends from 1992 to 2003 showed an increase in eating between meals and outside the home. There was also an upsurge in consumers for fast food, especially among young adults. Notable decreases in fruit consumption (from 301 to 224 g day 21 ) as well as in vegetables, potatoes, meat (red meat and chicken), fish (whitefish and seafood) and offals were observed. In contrast, there was an increase in dairy product consumption, in general (from 255 to 312 g day 21 ), as well as low fat and skim milk derivatives. Fruit juice, nuts and olive oil consumption also increased, the latter being consumed daily by 96% of the population. Little variation was observed for the rest of the food groups in the period studied. Overall, Catalonia is characterised by a model of consumption that is quite favourable, inherent to Mediterranean countries but with important differences according to age. Conclusion: Based on the food consumption trends observed in Catalonia, an increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables, as well as wholegrain cereals and fish, should be promoted, along with a reduction in the consumption of meat and sausages. The main causes of mortality in developed countries are closely related to diet, alcohol consumption, smoking and low levels of physical activity. Interventions in public health aim to reduce the average health risk for the general population as well as to achieve an optimal state of health and wellbeing. This objective necessitates the development of food and nutrition policies oriented towards the health of the entire community, thus eliminating or decreasing the identified risk factors 1 . As such, public health systems should incorporate a component of nutrition monitoring, an essential tool for the detection of nutrition problems, policy formation and for the planning and evaluation of action programs in both established care settings as well as in emergency situations [2][3][4] . Nutrition monitoring in the community involves the collection and analysis of precise quantitative measures derived from representative samples of the population for the purpose of detecting trends 5,6 . For this reason, the first step would be to conduct an initial baseline survey so as to assess the nutritional status of the population and thus identify and quantify the magnitude of the major nutrition-related problems, as well as to ascertain the causes, at risk groups, related life style determinants, etc. In this way problems can be prioritised, solutions sought,

Trends in energy and nutrient intake and risk of inadequate intakes in Catalonia, Spain (1992–2003)

“…For example, the cholesterol content in a boiled egg according to the French table 12 used in the first analysis of the surveys ENCAT 1992-93 was 500 mg per 100 g, while that of the Spanish tables used in ENCAT 2002-03 was 380 mg per 100 g 13 . Therefore, the same data analysed with different tables would show a difference of 120 mg per 100 g in a food habitually consumed 11 .…”

Trends in physical activity status in Catalonia, Spain (1992–2003)

“…Finally, 2160 individuals (participation rate 65%) aged 10 to 80 years participated in the ENCAT 2002-03 study 23 . The methodology of the study has been described elsewhere 22,23,35 . Information on physical activity was provided by questions adapted from the WHO physical activity CINDI (Countrywide Integrated Noncommunicable Diseases Intervention) questionnaire 36 used in the ENCAT 1992-93 and ENCAT 2002-03 surveys.…”

Secular changes in intakes of foods among New Zealand adults from 1997 to 2008/09

“…Those reporting consuming alcohol declined between the 1997 and 2008/09 surveys among females aged [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] years (−11·7 %, P = 0·006) and males aged 31-50 years (−8·7 %, P = 0·023), but the percentage reporting water as a beverage increased for males and females (P < 0·001).…”