Tracking the nutrition transition in Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, and Malaysia: analysis of per capita supply of energy, protein, and fat from 1982 to 2022.
Globally, dietary patterns have shifted over recent decades due to economic growth and urbanization, contributing to nutritional improvement and emerging diet related health challenges. However, few studies have compared long-term food supply trends across countries at different stages of economic development and the nutrition transition. We examined trends in energy supply (2010-2022), protein, and fat (1982 and 2022) supply in Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, and Malaysia.
Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization - Food Balance Sheets were used to assess national-level energy supply, analyzed in Stata version 18 using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and linear regression to evaluate trends in nutrient supply and their association with GDP per capita.
Economic growth was associated with increases in food supply across the four countries. Malaysia, with the highest GDP, reported an increase in energy (2,822.8 kcal/capita/day), protein (77.4 g/capita/day), and fat (89.6 g/capita/day) supply. Ghana, despite having the second lowest GDP, reported the highest energy supply (2,863.8 kcal/capita/day) and a 101% increase in protein supply, suggesting improvement in dietary diversity. In contrast, Tanzania, which experienced the lowest GDP growth, recorded the lowest energy (2,274.8 kcal/capita/day) and protein (55.6 g/capita/day) supply. Fat emerged as the secondary energy source in Malaysia and South Africa, both exhibited high sugar supply. Across all countries, animal protein supply increased more rapidly than plant protein supply. However, South Africa experienced an 18.5% decline in plant-based protein supply, indicating a gradual shift away from traditional dietary patterns. Correlation analysis showed a statistical significant relationship (p < 0.05) between GDP per capita and fat and protein supply, significant association between GDP per capita and both protein and fat supply (p < 0.05), with correlation coefficients ranging from r = 0.60 to 0.94 for protein supply and from r = 0.51 to 0.93 for fat supply.
Trends in per capita energy, protein, and fat supply reveal uneven changes across the four countries, reflecting different stages of economic development and the nutrition transition. The divergent trends call for country-specific strategies to promote healthier, more sustainable diets and reduce the growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases.
Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization - Food Balance Sheets were used to assess national-level energy supply, analyzed in Stata version 18 using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and linear regression to evaluate trends in nutrient supply and their association with GDP per capita.
Economic growth was associated with increases in food supply across the four countries. Malaysia, with the highest GDP, reported an increase in energy (2,822.8 kcal/capita/day), protein (77.4 g/capita/day), and fat (89.6 g/capita/day) supply. Ghana, despite having the second lowest GDP, reported the highest energy supply (2,863.8 kcal/capita/day) and a 101% increase in protein supply, suggesting improvement in dietary diversity. In contrast, Tanzania, which experienced the lowest GDP growth, recorded the lowest energy (2,274.8 kcal/capita/day) and protein (55.6 g/capita/day) supply. Fat emerged as the secondary energy source in Malaysia and South Africa, both exhibited high sugar supply. Across all countries, animal protein supply increased more rapidly than plant protein supply. However, South Africa experienced an 18.5% decline in plant-based protein supply, indicating a gradual shift away from traditional dietary patterns. Correlation analysis showed a statistical significant relationship (p < 0.05) between GDP per capita and fat and protein supply, significant association between GDP per capita and both protein and fat supply (p < 0.05), with correlation coefficients ranging from r = 0.60 to 0.94 for protein supply and from r = 0.51 to 0.93 for fat supply.
Trends in per capita energy, protein, and fat supply reveal uneven changes across the four countries, reflecting different stages of economic development and the nutrition transition. The divergent trends call for country-specific strategies to promote healthier, more sustainable diets and reduce the growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases.
Authors
Makori Makori, Mwanri Mwanri, Weible Weible, Goh Goh, Schott Schott, Matongera Matongera, Geza Geza, Adebayo Asalu Adebayo Asalu, Mudhara Mudhara, Massawe Massawe, Mabhaudhi Mabhaudhi, Kinabo Kinabo
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