Compliance with the dietary recommendations of the Swiss Society of Nutrition among the population of Geneva, Switzerland: a 10-year trend study (1999-2009)

Daisy de Abreu, Idris Guessous, Jean-Michel Gaspoz, Pedro Marques-Vidal.
Compliance with the Swiss Society for Nutrition's dietary recommendations in the population of Geneva, Switzerland: a 10-year trend study (1999-2009).Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, May 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2013.07.032

Abstract

Background: Trends in compliance with the dietary recommendations of the Swiss Society of Nutrition in the Geneva population were assessed over the period 1999 to 2009, using 10 population-based cross-sectional surveys (Bus Santé study) with a total of 9,320 participants aged 35 to 75 years (50% women).

Methods: Dietary intake was assessed using a validated, semi-quantitative, self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Trends were assessed by logistic regression, adjusting for age, smoking status, level of education and nationality, using the survey year as the independent variable. 

Results : After excluding participants with extreme dietary intakes, the percentage of participants with a cholesterol intake <300 mg/day increased from 40.8% in 1999 to 43.6% in 2009 in men (P adjusted for multivariate trend = 0.04) and from 57.8% to 61.4% in women (P adjusted for multivariate trend = 0.06). Calcium intake >1g/day decreased from 53.3% to 46% in men and from 47.6% to 40.7% in women (P adjusted for multivariate trend < 0.001). Adequate iron intake decreased from 68.3% to 65.3% in men and from 13.3% to 8.4% in women (P adjusted for multivariate trend < 0.001). On the other hand, no significant changes were observed for carbohydrates, proteins, total lipids (including saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids), fibre, and vitamins D and A. 

Conclusions:We conclude that the quality of food in Switzerland did not improve between 1999 and 2009, and that dietary intakes are far from the recommendations made by experts in the field of health promotion and chronic disease risk reduction.

Read the article in English