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Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents
Published on: November 1, 2019
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Access to a Nutritious Diet in Samoa: Local Insights
Penny Farrell1, Anne Marie Thow2, Suzie Schuster3
1a Sydney School of Public Health , The University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
Ecology of Food and Nutrition
|April 9, 2019
Summary
Dietary choices in Samoa are heavily influenced by cost, leading to high consumption of unhealthy foods despite food insecurity. This indicates a significant nutrition transition is occurring, impacting obesity rates.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition science
- Public health
- Behavioral science
Background:
- Samoa faces the third-highest adult obesity prevalence globally.
- Dietary patterns are a major contributor to obesity in Samoa.
- Understanding factors influencing food choice is critical for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore behavioral and demographic factors influencing dietary habits in Samoa.
- To identify key drivers of food choice for policy design.
- To assess the current state of the nutrition transition in Samoa.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative exploration of behavioral and demographic factors.
- Quantitative assessment of food choices and food insecurity.
- Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) analysis on a small sample.
Main Results:
- Food cost emerged as the primary determinant of food selection.
- High intake of energy-dense, nutrient-poor (sugary and fatty) foods was reported.
- Significant rates of food insecurity were concurrently observed.
- FFQ data aligns with the ongoing nutrition transition.
Conclusions:
- Cost-driven food choices exacerbate obesity and food insecurity in Samoa.
- Interventions must address affordability and accessibility of nutritious foods.
- Evidence confirms Samoa is undergoing a nutrition transition, necessitating targeted public health strategies.
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