Abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat thickness was higher with urban residency. A high prevalence of overweight and obesity was found. The Maasai had the highest overall fat accumulation.

Objective: To compare dietary patterns and food and macronutrient intakes among adults in three ethnic groups in rural Kenya. Design: In the present cross-sectional study, dietary intake was estimated in adult volunteers using two non-consecutive interactive 24 h recalls. Dietary patterns were assessed from the number of meals and snacks per day and from the food items and major food groups registered, and their contribution to energy intake (EI) was calculated. Anthropometric values were measured and sociodemographic data obtained using a questionnaire. Setting: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Bondo, Kitui and Transmara districts of rural Kenya. A high prevalence of food insecurity in Kenya underlines the importance of describing the dietary patterns and intakes in different Kenyan ethnic groups. Subjects: A total of 1163 (61 % women) adult Luo, Kamba and Maasai, with a mean age of 38?6 (range: 18-68) years, volunteered to participate. Results: Dietary patterns and food groups contributing to EI differed significantly among the ethnic groups. Mean EI ranged from 5?8 to 8?6 MJ/d among women and from 7?2 to 10?5 MJ/d among men, with carbohydrates contributing between 55?7 % and 74?2 % and fat contributing between 14?5 % and 30?2 % of total EI. Mean protein intake ranged from 0?72 to 1?3 g/kg per d, and EI:BMR ratio ranged between 1?1 and 1?6 in both sexes, and was highest among the Luo. Prevalence of underweight (BMI , 18?5 kg/m 2 ) was 13?7 %, 20?5 % and 24?2 % in the Luo, Kamba and Maasai, respectively. Conclusions: The degree of food insecurity measured as a degree of undernutrition and as dietary patterns differed considerably among the ethnic groups. The Maasai and Kamba in particular were exposed to food insecurity. Keywords Nutrition Population study Traditional food Rural populations KenyaKenya is one of several African countries facing food emergencies (1) . According to the FAO country profile on food security indicators, data from Kenya show that the proportion of food insecurity (determined as undernourishment with an average daily energy intake (EI) ,7?33 MJ/person) was 30 % during the period 2004-2006 (2) . Food insecurity exists when people lack secure access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life (3) . In the absence of direct measures of food insecurity, the nutritional status of individuals is often used as outcome measures to reflect the end result of all factors affecting the nutritional status, including food security. One of several indicators of food insecurity among adults is underweight (BMI , 18?5 kg/m 2 ). Recently, we showed a high prevalence of both underweight (17 % and 23 % in women and men) and overweight (BMI $ 25?0 kg/m 2 ; 26 % and 12 % in women and men, respectively) among rural Kenyans in a population group comprising Luo, Kamba and Maasai (4) . This clearly *Corresponding author: Email awh@niph.dk r The Authors 2011