Twenty-four-year trends and determinants of change in compliance with Swiss dietary guidelines

A healthy diet is the cornerstone of disease prevention, and dietary guidelines have been issued in most countries. We aimed to assess trends in compliance with dietary guidelines in the population of Geneva, Switzerland.

Multiple cross-sectional, population-based surveys conducted between 1993 and 2016 in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland [20,310 participants (52.3% women, mean age 51.9 ± 10.7 years)]. Trends in compliance with the Swiss dietary guidelines regarding food intake were assessed using logistic regression (a) for each guideline and (b) for at least three guidelines. Compliance before and after the first and second issuing of the guidelines was assessed.

After multivariable adjustment, compliance with fruits increased overall [odds ratio and (95% confidence interval) for 1-year increase: 1.007 (1.003-1.012), p < 0.001], in men, participants aged over 45 and with low educational level. Compliance with vegetables increased overall [1.015 (1.008-1.022), p < 0.001], in both genders, age groups [45-54 and 55-64] and participants with low educational level. Compliance with meat increased in women [1.007 (1.001-1.013), p = 0.021] and participants with a university degree. Compliance with fresh fish increased in age group [55-64] [1.009 (1.000-1.018), p = 0.041]. Compliance with dairy products decreased overall [0.979 (0.972-0.986), p < 0.001] and in all groups studied, except for age group [65-74]. Compliance with at least three guidelines increased in age group [55-64] only [1.013 (1.002-1.024), p = 0.019]. No effect of the issuing of the guidelines was found.

In the Geneva adult population, compliance with the Swiss dietary guidelines improved little. Issuing of dietary guidelines did not impact trends.