Rural-urban differences in food and nutrient intake of Pakistani children

Global increase in urbanisation accompanied by increase in complexity of nutritional problems is a cause of concern for most nations.

The aim of this study was to assess the differences in frequency of food consumption and nutrient intake of urban and rural Pakistani children.

Forty rural, 59 middle income urban and 81 affluent urban children belonging to the province of Punjab. Children were recruited through schools in Lahore and Rayonpura, Kala-Shah-Kaku (Sheikhupura district).

Three-day estimated diet records were kept by a total of 180, 10-12 year old school-children. The nutrient intake was calculated by the nutritional analysis package COMP-EAT and analysed on SPSS. The results of the three groups were compared.

Consumption of chapati, eggs, yoghurt and some of the traditional vegetarian snacks was very similar in all the three groups. Consumption of lentils, cooked vegetables, paratha (fried Asian bread) and tea decreased and that of milk, meat curry, chicken curry, chocolates, cakes, ice-cream, fruit and raw vegetables increased with urbanization. As compared with the rural children, the urban children had a higher mean daily intake of calories, sugar, protein, total fats, cholesterol, calcium, sodium, potassium, niacin, vitamin B12, folic acid, antioxidant vitamins A, C and E and lower intake of total carbohydrates, fibre and starch.

It is concluded that although the macro-nutrient consumption pattern of rural children appears to be heart healthy lower consumption of protective micro-nutrients by them may put them at risk. In view of rapid urbanisation and its multidimensional impacts on the health of the populations living in the urban areas of the developing world, these dietary trends provide baseline information for health professionals.