This study aimed to describe nutrition transition in Nepal over the past 40 years and to explore its relationship with economic, demographic and epidemiological shifts; and further discussed how different socioeconomic groups were experiencing the nutrition transition. The current study used a multimethod study framework including quantitative and qualitative studies. In the past 40 years, nutrition transition had occurred in Nepal. In 1990s, economic shifts occurred raising the GDP per-capita income above poverty threshold level. Following this, increase in total energy supply and total fats intake in diet exceeded the average dietary energy requirement level (2250Kcal/person/day) set out for the country (end of pattern 3). During 2000s, a number of demographic shifts including increase in average life expectancy beyond 60 years occurred leading to population ageing. Imports of processed foods increased significantly due to globalisation, while domestic agricultural production decreased drastically due to the Civil War resulting in higher proportion of processed foods, fats and sugar in diet. The globalisation and the Civil War may have facilitated to shift the food supply system from primary agriculture products to convenience/processed foods. It was likely that the economic, demographic and dietary behavioural shifts had collectively influenced the epidemiological shifts leading to overweight, obesity and chronic NCDs in Nepal (pattern 4). Distinct socio-economic groups in Nepal were experiencing these transitions differently. The lower socio-economic group and rural residents continued to consume low variety and low-fat foods and had lower prevalence of overweight and obesity (pattern 3). While, the higher socioeconomic groups and urban residents retained some food from Nepalese traditional cereal but were also increasing their consumption of extra meals, which were higher in fats and had higher prevalence of overweight and obesity (pattern 4). A number of underlying drivers for these dietary shifts were identified, but further work is still needed to better understand how these drivers interact with a range of sociodemographic factors to elicit behaviour change.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:742384 |
| Date | January 2018 |
| Creators | Subedi, Yagya Prasad |
| Publisher | University of Aberdeen |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=236446 |
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