Dietary Westernisation: conceptualisation and measurement in Mauritius

Abstract

Objectives: The aims of the study were to provide information that will contribute to conceptualising what is called 'dietary Westernisation', and to provide an example of measuring it on an individual level. Design: Food consumption frequency and demographic data on adults in Mauritius were examined in 1988, 1992 and 1998. In 1992, a 24-hour recall was also included. The cross-sectional samples consisted of 1115 (age 25-74 years) Mauritians in 1987/88, 1917 (age 30-74 years) in 1992 and 2239 (age 20-74 years) in 1998. Principal components analysis was carried out on daily consumption frequencies of 10 indicator foods (white rice, white bakery bread, pulses, processed meat, poultry, fresh/frozen fish, butter, margarine, whole milk and skimmed/low-fat milk). Correlations between dietary patterns and selected food consumption frequencies were examined in each survey year. Results: Four dietary patterns were identified as being related to dietary Westernisation. The Traditional dietary pattern was characterised by higher consumption frequencies of Indian breads, salted/smoked fish and sugar-sweetened tea. The Western dietary pattern was characterised by higher consumption frequencies of cakes/pastries, meat and many Western fast foods like burgers, but, surprisingly, also by brown bread, breakfast cereals and salad. The Bread/butter dietary pattern predominantly described more frequent consumption of bread compared with rice. The Margarine/milk dietary pattern was inconsistently related with staple foods. Younger, educated and wealthier Mauritians appeared to adopt Western dietary patterns earlier.Conclusions: This study suggests that relatively few indicator foods are needed for measuring dietary Westernisation. Dietary Westernisation in a non-Western country may also include shifts towards voluntary consumption of healthier foods.

Relationship between Socio-Demographic Factors and Eating Practices in a Multicultural Society

“…The results for cakes and pastries were in line with other reported results [20], which reported that younger, wealthier and educated Mauritians consumed a Western diet consisting of frequent consumption of cakes/pastries, meat and meat products. This present study reported similarities with respect to the relationship between age and cakes/pastries only.…”

“…This present study reported similarities with respect to the relationship between age and cakes/pastries only. The lack of similar findings with respect to meat and meat products might have been due to either a change in dietary practice as previously reported [20] or it might be due to the difference in dietary sampling techniques used in these two studies.…”

Nutrient intakes are associated with adherence to a traditional diet among Yup`ik Eskimos living in remote Alaska Native communities: the CANHR Study

“…The center currently supports interdisciplinary research investigating genetic, nutritional, and behavioral risk factors for chronic disease among Alaska Natives. The objective of the present paper is to add to the growing body of literature documenting the nutritional effects of dietary westernization, which has been defined as "the diffusion and adoption of western food culture" (6).…”

High consumption of pulses is associated with lower risk of abnormal glucose metabolism in women in Mauritius

“…All records were converted to daily consumption frequencies, by dividing the daily, weekly or monthly frequencies by one, seven or 30, respectively [17]. …”