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Low-cost diets: more energy, fewer nutrients
E Andrieu1, N Darmon, A Drewnowski
1Nutritional Epidemiology Research Unit INSERM 557, Paris, France.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|November 25, 2005
Summary
Low-cost diets are often energy-dense but nutrient-poor. This study found that more nutrient-dense diets, while healthier, come with a significantly higher cost for consumers.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
- Food Economics
Background:
- Energy-dense diets are often affordable but lack essential nutrients.
- Dietary choices significantly impact public health outcomes.
- Understanding the cost-nutrient relationship is crucial for dietary guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between diet cost and nutrient density in the French adult population.
- To analyze how energy density and nutrient intake vary with diet cost.
- To inform public health strategies regarding affordable healthy eating.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the French national food consumption survey.
- Estimated diet costs using retail food prices in France.
- Stratified adult participants by quartiles of energy cost (euro/10 MJ) and compared dietary intake.
Main Results:
- Individuals with the lowest diet costs consumed the most energy-dense, nutrient-poor diets.
- Higher diet costs were associated with lower energy density and higher intake of key vitamins and micronutrients.
- Diets with higher nutrient density were 165% more expensive daily.
Conclusions:
- Nutrient-dense diets are significantly more expensive than energy-dense, nutrient-poor diets in France.
- Affordability remains a barrier to accessing healthier food options for many consumers.
- Policy interventions may be needed to make nutritious diets more accessible and affordable.