Caribbean nutrition transition: what can we learn from dietary patterns in the French West Indies?
Open accessAbstract
Purpose Despite the urgency regarding increasing rates of obesity and chronic diseases in the Caribbean, few studies described the nutrition transition. We aimed to provide such information by identifying dietary patterns in the French West Indies and their characteristics. Methods This cross-sectional analysis included 1144 Guadeloupeans and Martinicans from a multistage sampling survey conducted on a representative sample. Dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis followed by a clustering procedure, and described using multivariable regression models. Results Four patterns were identified: (i) a "prudent" pattern characterized by high intakes of fruits, vegetables, legumes, seafood and yogurts, low intakes of fatty and sweet products, and a high Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I); (ii) a "traditional" pattern characterized by high intakes of fruits, vegetables, tubers and fish, low intakes of red and processed meat, snacks, fast foods, and sweetened beverages, with a high DQI-I, mostly shaped by women and older persons; (iii) a "convenient" pattern characterized by high intakes of sweetened beverages, snacks, and fast foods, with the lowest DQI-I, principally shaped by young participants; (iv) a "transitioning" pattern characterized by high consumptions of bread, processed meat, sauces, alcoholic and sweetened beverages, but also high intakes of tubers, legumes, and fish, mainly shaped by men, middle aged, of whom 35% had metabolic syndrome. Conclusion The co-existing dietary patterns in the French West Indies, marked by a generational contrast, seem to reflect different steps in dietary change as described in the literature, suggesting an ongoing nutrition transition.
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Cilento and Martinique share similarities in dietary and environmental factors, prioritizing minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods that provide antioxidants and support metabolic health.
“Cilento and Martinique share several similarities in their dietary and environmental factors. Martinique’s traditional diet is rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and tubers, paralleling Cilento’s emphasis on figs, olive oil, and seasonal vegetables. Both regions prioritize minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods that provide antioxidants and support metabolic health [198].”
From The Power of Environment: A Comprehensive Review of the Exposome's Role in Healthy Aging, Longevity, and Preventive Medicine-Lessons from Blue Zones and Cilento (2025) · cites this paper as [198]
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- Authors
- Colombet, Z., Allès, B., Perignon, M., Landais, E., Martin-Prevel, Y., Amiot, M.-J., Darmon, N., & Méjean, C.
- Affiliations
- Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (FR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Université de Montpellier (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Colombet, Zoé
- Venue
- European Journal of Nutrition
- Published
- 2020-07-04
- Volume
- 60
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 1111-1124
- ISSN
- 1436-6207 (ISSN-L)
- 1436-6215
- OpenAlex
- W3039334492
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 2.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hal.inrae.fr
- Licence
- Locations
- European Journal of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche (NR-16-CE21-0009)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- nutrition transition, dietary habits, French West Indies, prudent diet, traditional diet, Diet Quality Index-International, metabolic syndrome, obesity, chronic disease, generational differences, fast food, sweetened beverages, processed meat
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diet, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nutritional Status, West Indies, Caribbean Region
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