Research
Macro partitioning
Urbanization is a primary driver of dietary changes, specifically increasing energy intake from fats and sweeteners, independent of total GNP per capita.
Moving to a city in a low-income country tends to increase fat and sugar intake. Policies should focus on urban food environments to prevent this shift.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The clear implication is that a shift from 25 to 75% urban population in very low income countries would be associated with an added 4 percentage points total energy from fat and an additional 12 percentage points energy from sweeteners.
Why this rating
Supported by regression analysis of FAO food balance sheets and World Bank data across 98-133 countries.
Source
The nutrition transition and its health implications in lower-income countries
Barry M. Popkin · Public Health Nutrition · 1998
DOI 10.1079/phn19980004
narrative_reviewCited 728×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Rapid urbanization and economic growth in lower-income countries drive a nutrition transition characterized by increased consumption of fats and sweeteners alongside reduced physical activity, leading to rising obesity and chronic disease rates.Good
- The shift from agricultural to industrial/service occupations leads to reduced physical activity, contributing significantly to obesity and chronic energy deficiency in rural areas.Good
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