- 期刊
- Ahead-of-Print
Where is Nepal in the Nutrition Transition?
並列摘要
The patterns and trends of the Nutrition Transition in Nepal are unknown. This study aimed to identify where Nepal is in the nutrition transition. Time series data for 10 proxy variables of economic, demographic, dietary and epidemiological shifts were collected in five-year intervals from 1970 to 2010 from government and global databases. The structure of the Nepalese economy is gradually shifting from an agricultural to a modern industrial economy. Urbanisation and per capita income have increased. Nepalese dietary patterns have changed with plant fat and sugar as the main contributors to an increased energy and saturated fat trend. Life expectancy has increased and mortality and fertility have decreased. The double burden of disease is evident with the prevalence of underweight and many communicable diseases decreasing, while the prevalence of overweight/obesity and other non-communicable diseases is increasing. In conclusion, Nepal may be transiting from stage three (primarily rural poverty stricken areas) to stage four (mostly urban areas) of the Nutrition Transition. After the earthquake disaster on 25 April 2015, it is unclear whether this will change current nutrition transition trends/patterns and how long the recovery period will be.