Trends in Nutritional Intakes and Nutrition-Related Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Lebanon : The Need for Immediate Action

Abstract

To examine the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and their association with dietary variables in the Lebanese population while reviewing secular trends in the population's nutritional intakes and nutrition-related CVD risk factors. METHODS : Data on CVD risk factors and food consumption patterns in Lebanon were collected from scholarly papers, including individual studies and systematic review articles. Electronic databases were searched using combinations of key terms. RESULTS : The prevalence of obesity in Lebanon followed an alarming increasing trend over time, paralleled by an escalation in the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Food consumption surveys illustrate an increasing trend in energy intake and the proportion of energy derived from fat and animal products, with a concomitant decrease in carbohydrates and cereals intakes. CONCLUSION : The shift towards an atherogenic diet coupled with the alarming increase in nutrition-related cardiovascular risk factors suggest that the Lebanese population is at an increased risk for CVDs. This should alert to the importance of formulating multicomponent intervention strategies at both the individual and population levels to halt the progression of nutrition-related diseases in the country, while highlighting the need for immediate public health efforts to promote the adoption of healthy dietary habits.

Review of the nutrition situation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

“…Food availability data highlight a shift towards an increasingly energy-dense diet and higher intake of fat in the Region, with a parallel decreasing trend in carbohydrate availability. This trend is confirmed by dietary assessment surveys, which also document high intake of fat, and a shift towards a westernized diet (159,162,(165)(166)(167)(168). Nearly half of the countries in the Region had fat supply levels at or above the reported global average of 81.8 g/person/day (169).…”

“…Most countries in the Region are witnessing fast rates of development and modernization, with concurrent shifts in diet and food consumption (162). These shifts are the basis of the nutritional transition, which is characterized by increased intake of energy, fat, added sugars and salty foods (162,163).…”

“…These shifts are the basis of the nutritional transition, which is characterized by increased intake of energy, fat, added sugars and salty foods (162,163). Through these particular changes in dietary intake, the nutritional transition may explain the escalating burden of obesity and NCDs in the Region (162)(163)(164).…”

Mediterranean Adequacy Index in Young People in Syria

“…Unfortunately the countries of the eastern basin of the Mediterranean, such as Syria and Lebanon and another countries are exposed to waves of change of food pattern and food balance such as the traditional food as well as the lifestyle toward an energy dense dietary pattern 50 which leads to an increase in chronic diseases, obesity, mortality (50) and other nutrition-related diseases of the region 51 . Syria as in Lebanon the obesity was increased from 17% in 1997 to 28,2% in 2009 41,52 which exceeds the rate of various advanced countries during the past 10 years, including the United States of America 53 . Moreover the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes type2 are the highest in the world 50 .…”

Promoting healthy eating and physical activity among school children: findings from Health-E-PALS, the first pilot intervention from Lebanon

“…In response, policies and strategies have been recommended to promote weight control and physical activity across Lebanon [8, 9]. But school-based interventions promoting healthy eating and physical activity are still lacking, and the Lebanese integrated health curriculum incorporates very little nutrition education.…”