The nutrition transition in Egypt: obesity, undernutrition and the food consumption context.
OBJECTIVE
To describe changing food consumption patterns in Egypt over the last several decades, current levels of overweight and obesity, and current data on obesity-related morbidity.


METHODS
Secondary analysis and synthesis of existing data from national-level food consumption surveys, large recent surveys of hypertension and diabetes, and documentation of historical and policy context.


METHODS
Arab Republic of Egypt.


METHODS
As selected and described in primary data sources.


CONCLUSIONS
The nutrition transition in Egypt has occurred in the context of abundant dietary energy availability, urbanisation and moderate fat intakes. The prevalence of obesity in adults is very high, particularly among women. The prevalences of diabetes mellitus and of hypertension parallel that of obesity, and both are very high. Little information is available on physical activity, but it is likely that a large proportion of the population is quite sedentary, particularly in the cities. At the same time, rates of early childhood malnutrition remain stubbornly stable and relatively high. Public awareness of the increasing prevalence of obesity and of diet-related chronic disease is increasing, and attention has turned to documenting the problem(s).
Galal
Osman M
OM
School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles 90095, USA. ogalal@ucla.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D007223:Infant; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014507:Urbanization
D004041:Dietary Fats