The Nutrition Transition ProgramRapid socioeconomic, demographic, and technological change, often linked with increasing globalization, is explained by a vast array of shifts in our way of living and doing commerce. These shifts have led to an ever increasing rate of change of dietary, activity, and body composition patterns around the world. The pace of dietary and physical activity change has accelerated to varying degrees in different regions of the world. Examining the patterns of change in dietary and physical activity patterns and nutritional status, and exploring their relationships with economic, social, demographic, and health factors, will improve our understanding of the causes of change and their consequences for health and economic well-being. The Nutrition Transition Program of UNC-CH, housed at The Carolina Population Center, is developing a series of longitudinal surveys and studies coupled with ecological and other cross-sectional research. The goal is to further our understanding of the patterns, determinants, consequences, and program and policy options for dealing with the transition. Emphasis is placed on the shift of countries and large populations into the stage of the nutrition transition associated with high levels of nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases (NR-NCD). We use "nutrition" rather than diet, so the term NR-NCD incorporates the effects of physical activity and body composition rather than solely focusing on dietary patterns and their effects. The NR-NCD's were once referred to as diseases of affluence. For decades, however, NR-NCD's have affected all income levels among more affluent countries. As we now show in our research, NR-NCD's are increasing at all income levels in the lower- and middle-income countries as well. Affiliated Research ProgramRelated Research Programs
China Health and Nutrition Survey Dynamics, Economics & the Built Environment: Diet, Activity and Obesity General Studies on the Nutrition Transition IDOC - Inter-Disciplinary Obesity Center Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey Studies on the Nutrition Transition in Brazil U.S. Diet Research: Patterns, Trends & Determinants
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