Nutrition Transition (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Grace Bower
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Nutrition Transition
The Nutrient Transition
The Nutrient Transition is a model showing advancement in diet, in relation to demographic, economic and social change
It shows changes in diet and associated diseases as societies progress
The Nutrition Transition has five sections:
1: Hunter Gatherer
Palaeolithic man
Traditional early lifestyle
2: Early Agriculture
Early monoculture
Famine begins
3: End of famine
Period of industrialisation
Wealth increases
Nutrition gradually improves
4: Overconsumption
Noncommunicable or chronic diseases
Wealth increases
5: Behaviour change
Societal change and development
The Nutrition Transition
LICS are typically located in patterns 1-3, where they are slowly moving to pattern 4:
Many countries have moved to a Western diet. It is more energy-dense, bringing with it more diseases associated with Pattern 4 diets
HICs are located in patterns 4 and 5
Regional Variations of Food Consumption
Food consumption varies within countries and between countries
Diets may vary depending on the pattern of the nutrition transition
Coefficient of Variation in calorie intake
The coefficient of variation measures how dispersed the data is from the mean (how much change there is from the average of a data set)
The coefficient of variation for calorie intake shows the inequalities of calorie intake within a population
A higher coefficient of variation shows there is more inequality
African, Asian and South American regions have more calorie intake inequalities:
There are stark differences between the rich and poor in these countries
Obesity is much higher in much of the Americas, Europe, North Asia and Oceania
Obesity is lower in much of Africa and Southern Asia
Some countries within Africa are higher:
Caused by dietary change from traditional to more Westernised choices
A result of increasing urbanisation, reduced activity and improvements in transport
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Think about what the increase in obesity levels tells you about nutrition choices. What stage of the Nutrition Transition are many of these countries in? Ensure you consistently link such patterns back to the Nutrition Transition; it’ll help you support your point!
Variations of food type
Food type | Regional variation |
|---|---|
Fruits | The Americas, Europe, Northern Asia and Oceania consume moderate to higher fruit densities Lower rates of fruit consumption lie in the African continent and some Asian regions There are numerous anomalies. Countries like Ghana, Malawi and Uganda have a higher fruit consumption than many Western countries Countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Lithuania and Cambodia (among others) also show unusual anomalies |
Vegetables | North America, Europe, Asia (excluding East Asia), and Oceania have a higher vegetable consumption Much of North Africa also has a higher vegetable consumption, but Southern Africa and parts of West Africa are much lower Lower rates are also found in parts of South America |
Sugars and Sweeteners | The Americas, Europe, Oceania, North, South and Central Asia, as well as parts of northern and southern Africa, consume high amounts of sugar and sweetener East Asia and much of central Africa have lower rates of sugar and sweetener consumption. Countries like China, Niger and Ethiopia (among others) consumed less than 25g a day in 2015 Overall, global sugar and sweetener consumption is relatively high, with much of the world consuming more than 75g per day in 2015 |
Meat consumption | Meat consumption is higher in America, Europe, Northern Asia and Oceania. Africa and South/East Asia have lower meat consumption rates North Korea is an anomaly |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Think about these different regional variations in consumption. What are the reasons for the variations and how can you link them with the Nutrition Transition?
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