Dietary intakes of an African population in different stages of transition in the North West Province, South Africa: the THUSA study

Abstract

This community based, cross-sectional study describes the effects of urbanization on the food intakes of the African population of the North West Province, South Africa. Dietary intakes of 1751 apparently healthy adults, stratified according to gender and stratum of urbanization were assessed using a validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ). Mean energy and protein intakes for all strata were adequate. Mean intakes of micronutrients were low in comparison to reference standards. Mean energy distribution was 65% carbohydrate, 12% protein and 22% fat for the rural, farm, informal settlement and middle class urban strata and 57%, 13% and 31% for the upper class urban strata. Intakes of the staple, maize meal, decreased between the urban middle and upper class strata. Fruit and vegetable consumption was low throughout the sample. Food intakes showed a shift from the traditional high carbohydrate low fat diet to a diet associated with noncommunicable diseases.