Dietary intake, physical activity and nutritional status in adults: the French nutrition and health survey (ENNS, 2006–2007)

Abstract

The French National Programme on Nutrition and Health (Programme national nutrition santé (PNNS)), the aim of which is to reduce nutritionrelated chronic diseases, necessitates monitoring of nutritional characteristics. Our objective was to describe dietary intake, physical activity and nutritional status in a national sample of adults, especially according to current French recommendations. The study is based on a cross-sectional population-based survey using a multistage sampling design (Etude nationale nutrition santé (ENNS)). Between February 2006 and March 2007, 3115 18-74-year-old adults were included (participation rate 59·7 %). Energy, macronutrient and food consumption were estimated through three randomly distributed 24 h recalls, and compared to PNNS recommendations; physical activity was described using International Physical Activity Questionnaire guidelines; anthropometry, blood pressure and biochemical measurements were assessed according to national and international references. When compared to current recommendations, intake of carbohydrates (. 50 % energy intake without alcohol: 26·4 %), SFA (, 35 % total lipids: 18·5 %) and total fibre (.25 g/d: 13·7 %) was frequently unsatisfactory. While overall consumption of 'meat, seafood and eggs' was satisfactory, that of fruits and vegetables ($400 g/d: 43·8 %) and seafood (two or more servings per week: 29·9 %) was frequently too low. The physical activity level was satisfactory at 63·2 %. Overweight was observed in 49·3 % of adults, while 30·9 % were hypertensive and 44·1 % had dyslipidaemia. Vitamin and iron-poor status was found to affect less than 10 % of the population. Based on the ENNS survey, overall nutrition remains a problem in France. Comparison of these data with those of other countries could contribute to a better understanding of variations in nutrition-related diseases.Nutritional surveys: Diet assessment: Physical activity: Biochemical markers: Adults Satisfactory diet, physical activity and nutritional status are recognized as major determinants of health. Many epidemiological studies have shown a significant association between nutrition and CVD, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes and other age-related diseases (1) . Healthcare expenses that could be spared through nutritional prevention, especially of obesity, are subject to debate (2) . Indeed, when obesity-related mortality is prevented and life expectancy increases, the cost of less lethal illnesses may also increase (3) . Nonetheless, prevention of diseases associated with nutrition remains a priority. Benefits in terms of health and life expectancy that could be expected from population intervention, via promotion of satisfactory nutrition, have been internationally published (1) and public health programmes have been widely implemented especially in Europe (4) .In France, in 2002, obesity-related costs were estimated at 2·1-6·2 billion euros, i.e. 1·5 -4·6 % of total health expenditures (5) . In 2005, over 155 000 people died from cancer and 149 000 from CVD (29·5 and 28·4 ...

Dietary pattern, a modifiable risk factor that can be easily assessed for atherosclerosis vascular disease prevention in clinical practice

“…Lastly, Mozaffarian et al (10) have even suggested that consuming PUFA in place of SFA reduces CHD events in randomized control trials. According to the nutritional recommendations of the French PNNS, our study confirmed the results of two other French studies in which subjects recruited through a media campaign had an unsatisfactory diet (35,36) . In our study, only 11?6 % had an F&V score corresponding to five servings per day.…”

Associations of socioeconomic factors with inadequate dietary intake in food aid users in France (The ABENA study 2004–2005)

“…Consistent with other studies on both general and lowincome populations (Cristofar and Basiotis, 1992;Dixon et al, 2001;Tarasuk, 2001), our findings also highlighted the fact that, the more severe the food insufficiency, the lower the consumption of meat, seafood and eggs, dairy products and, fruits and vegetables. Although food aid users generally had much lower consumption of these foods than the general French population (Castetbon et al, 2009), this observation underlines the fact that, irrespective of their common highly precarious situation, some food aid users considered themselves to be food sufficient. Various strategies may be used by individuals when confronted with the problem of food insufficiency, including dietary changes, food-seeking strategies and rationing strategies, such as skipping meals and skipping eating for entire days (Oldewage-Theron et al, 2006).…”

Socio-economic characteristics, living conditions and diet quality are associated with food insecurity in France

“…However, Radimer and Radimer showed that the four-part response to the Food Sufficiency Indicator fairly accurately estimates food insecurity (4) . Second, although the participation rate in the survey (63 %) is similar to that obtained in another similar French survey requiring home visits (68) , possible occurrence of a selection bias it cannot be excluded. Moreover, the study design excluded some population groups (e.g.…”