Linear Programming Techniques for the Construction of Palatable Human Diets

Fletcher, L. R.; Soden, P. M.; Zinober, A.S.I.

doi:10.1038/sj/jors/0450501

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…Their maximum capacity was a problem with 100 foods and 30 constraints. Based on this analysis, Fletcher et al developed a computational method able to construct individually acceptable diets by means of LP ( 28 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of the Use of Linear Programming to Optimize Diets, Nutritiously, Economically and Environmentally

Dooren

2018

Front. Nutr.

106

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The “Diet Problem” (the search of a low-cost diet that would meet the nutritional needs of a US Army soldier) is characterized by a long history, whereas most solutions for comparable diet problems were developed in 2000 or later, during which computers with large calculation capacities became widely available and linear programming (LP) tools were developed. Based on the selected literature (52 papers), LP can be applied to a variety of diet problems, from food aid, national food programmes, and dietary guidelines to individual issues. This review describes the developments in the search for constraints. After nutritional constraints, costs constraints, acceptability constraints and ecological constraints were introduced. The 12 studies that apply ecological constraints were analyzed and compared in detail. Most studies have used nutritional constraints and cost constraints in the analysis of dietary problems and solutions, but such research begin showing weaknesses under situations featuring a small number of food items and/or nutritional constraints. Introducing acceptability constraints is recommended, but no study has provided the ultimate solution to calculating acceptability. Future possibilities lie in finding LP solutions for diets by combining nutritional, costs, ecological and acceptability constraints. LP is an important tool for environmental optimization and shows considerable potential as an instrument for finding solutions to a variety of very complex diet problems.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of the Use of Linear Programming to Optimize Diets, Nutritiously, Economically and Environmentally

Dooren

2018

Front. Nutr.

106

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“…The least‐cost approach based on the linear programming technique in setting food poverty lines has been applied in many studies (Ogwumike, ; Soden and Fletcher, ; Fletcher et al . ; World Bank, ; and Bellu, ). The advantages of using linear programming technique in setting food poverty lines, as observed by Ogwumike (), include: (i) the nutritional constraints in terms of calories and even other measures of nutritional contents in food can easily be built into the model; (ii) the consumption patterns and customs of the zones/regions of interest can also be built into the model; and (iii) the technique ensures that the cost of the diet arrived at is at the minimum given the various constraints in (i) and (ii) above.…”

Section: Theoretical Framework and Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Vulnerability to Food Poverty in Nigeria

Ozughalu¹,

Ogwumike²

2013

African Development Review

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Economists have in recent times recognized that a household's sense of well-being depends not just on its average income or expenditure but on the risk it faces as well. Vulnerability is thus a very crucial issue in welfare analysis. This study estimated and analysed the magnitude of vulnerability to food poverty based on data from the 2004 Nigeria Living Standard Survey (NLSS) obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics. The three-step Feasible Generalized Least Squares (3FGLS) procedure was employed in estimating the extent of vulnerability to food poverty in Nigeria. The results show that 61.68 per cent of Nigerians were vulnerable to food poverty; the incidence of vulnerability to food poverty varied significantly across zones and between the urban and rural sectors; and was highest in the South West zone (68.32 per cent) and lowest in North East zone (50.19 per cent); and it is more in the urban sector (64.61 per cent) than in the rural (59.37 per cent). It is evident that the magnitude of vulnerability to food poverty is very high. Thus, policies that will enhance people's access to food should be adopted and targeted transfers of subsidized basic food items should be used to sufficiently reduce vulnerability to food poverty in the country.

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“…This formulation of the Diet Problem is examined in three scenarios, with each scenario adding additional constraints. Following Fletcher and colleagues [27], in the case in which not all constraints can be met, shadow costs are utilized to determine the best suboptimal solution.…”

Section: Problem Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family Meal Planning under COVID-19 Scarcity Constraints: A Linear Programming Approach

Joanis¹

2020

JFNR

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The "Diet Problem" originated in the 1940s when researchers were tasked with determining the lowest-cost subsistence diet for a U.S. soldier. Originally, the task was accomplished through basic heuristics, but later the problem was solved using the simplex algorithm-the basis for modern linear programming. Enhancements to computing technology enabled further constraint consideration, including environmental and palatability constraints. In late 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic began to sweep the planet, resulting in the unavailability of staple food products in the United States, coupled with stay-at-home requirements. This study aimed to add scarcity constraints (food availability and time) to the Diet Problem to demonstrate that, even during a pandemic, healthy eating can be maintained, visits to the supermarket can be limited to reduce exposure, and this can be done relatively inexpensively. A diversified meal plan for a hypothetical family of four was identified at a total monthly cost of $641.51. This study not only demonstrates that healthy eating can be cost-effectively maintained by consumers during a global pandemic but also that shopping trips can be limited to reduce exposure and maintain social distance. Additionally, linear programming-not normally considered by academic researchers-is showcased as a methodology that can be used by other researchers to solve novel problems.

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Linear Programming Techniques for the Construction of Palatable Human Diets

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

A Review of the Use of Linear Programming to Optimize Diets, Nutritiously, Economically and Environmentally

A Review of the Use of Linear Programming to Optimize Diets, Nutritiously, Economically and Environmentally

Vulnerability to Food Poverty in Nigeria

Family Meal Planning under COVID-19 Scarcity Constraints: A Linear Programming Approach

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