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The nutrition transition in Cuba in the nineties: an overview

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2006

Arturo Rodríguez-Ojea ,
Santa Jiménez ,
Antonio Berdasco  and
Mercedes Esquivel
Arturo Rodríguez-Ojea*
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medical Science ‘Calixto Garcia’, c/o Ileana Alfonso, Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Infanta 1158, CP 10300 Havana, Cuba
Santa Jiménez
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Havana, Cuba
Antonio Berdasco
Affiliation:
Department of Growth and Development, Faculty of Medical Science ‘Julio Trigo’, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba
Mercedes Esquivel
Affiliation:
Department of Growth and Development, Faculty of Medical Science ‘Julio Trigo’, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba
*
*Corresponding author: Email arojea@infomed.sld.cu
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Abstract

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Objective:

To describe and analyse the changes in diet, physical activity and body composition of the Cuban population during the 1990s and the health implications of these changes.

Design and setting: Data on national food balance and physical activity are from government agencies and the Ministry of Public Health; nation-wide and local representative surveys were used to analyse body composition and leisure activities. Data on morbidity and mortality arefrom the Ministry of Public Health.

Results:

The collapse of the European socialist countries and the Soviet Union, as well as the reinforced United States' blockade, provoked a sudden shortage of fuel, raw materials, imported foods and essential supplies. Per capita energy availability decreased, physical activity increased, and the prevalence of obesity decreased. Nutrition deficiencies were observed in the early 1990s, while the trend of morbidity from non-communicable disease continued to increase. The nutrition transition characteristics following the economic recovery in 1995–1996 resembled those of the 1980s because of the increased food availability, decreased physical activity and increased obesity prevalence.

Conclusions:

Programmes to deal with the complex situation generated a response in a remarkably short time. Undesirable changes in diet composition and the reduction of physical activity constitute a challenge in the current post-critical stage that must be prevented.

Keywords

DietObesityPhysical activityBody compositionDietary energy
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 5 , Issue 1a , February 2002 , pp. 129 - 133
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2002

References

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