Changing nutritional patterns in the Caribbean and their implications for health

• Published in: Food and nutrition bulletin 1992, Vol.14 (2), p.1-8
• Main Authors: Sinha, Dinesh P., McIntosh, Curtis E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: caraibes; caribbean; caribe; comportement alimentaire; deficiency diseases; diet; dieta; enfermedades carenciales; feeding habits; habitos alimentarios; human nutrition; maladie de carence; meal patterns; metabolic disorders; nutricion humana; nutrition humaine; pautas alimentarias; regime alimentaire; schema alimentaire; trastornos metabolicos; trouble du metabolisme
• ISSN: 0379-5721; 1564-8265
• DOI: 10.1177/156482659201400213

In the last 30 years, the health and nutrition of young children in the English-speaking Caribbean has improved significantly. Infant and child mortality rates and severe cases of PEM have declined. However, among adults obesity has increased and high morbidity and mortality rates due to chronic degenerative diseases have been reported. This paper reports on the food and nutrition patterns of the two countries that are at the upper and lower limits of economic development in the region, Barbados and Guyana respectively. In the last three decades, compared to Guyana, Barbados has made significant progress economically and has increased food availability. It has eliminated malnutrition in children; however, nutrition-related chronic diseases in adults have assumed epidemic proportions. Qualitative as well as quantitative aspects of the diet need to be addressed. Public education programmes need to be developed to encourage low-fat/high-complex-carbohydrate diets. In addition to diet. other lifestyle factors such as exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption. and psychosocial stress need to be addressed among the Caribbean populations.