title: Nutrition transition in a middle-income country: 22-year trends in the Seychelles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is little objective information regarding nutrition transition in African countries. We assessed trends in nutrition patterns in the Seychelles between 1989 and 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based samples were obtained in 1989, 1994 and 2011 and participants aged 25-44 are considered in this study (n=493, 599 and 471, respectively). Similar, although not identical, food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) were used in each survey and the variables were collapsed into homogenous categories for the purpose of this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1989 and 2011, consumption frequency of fish (5+/week) decreased from 93 to 74%, whereas the following increased: meat (5+/week) 25 to 51%, fruits (1+/week) 48 to 94%, salty snacks (1+/week) 22 to 64% and sweet snacks (1+/week) 38 to 67% (P<0.001 for all). Consumption frequency decreased for home-brewed alcoholic drinks (1+/week) 16 to 1%, but increased for wine (1+/week) 5 to 33% (both P<0.001). Between 2004 and 2011, consumption frequency decreased for rice (2/day) 62 to 57% and tea (1+/day) 72 to 68%, increased for poultry (1+/week) 86 to 96% (all P<0.01), and did not change for vegetables (70.3 to 69.8%, P=0.65).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seychelles is experiencing nutrition transition characterized by a decreased consumption frequency of traditional staple foods (fish, polished rice), beverages (tea) and of inexpensive home brews, and increased consumption frequency of meat, poultry and snacks. Food patterns also became more varied along with a broader availability of products in the 22-year interval. The health impact of these changes should be further studied.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Preventive Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bovet
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Viswanathan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luke
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marques-Vidal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D001628:Beverages; D003906:Developing Countries; D004032:Diet / Q000639:trends*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D012750:Seychelles