The Na content of bread is one of the most common targets of initiatives to reduce Na intake worldwide. Assessing the Na content of staple foods is of major relevance in Mozambique, given the high burden of hypertension in this setting. We aimed to estimate the Na content of white bread available in different bakeries and markets in Maputo.

A cross-sectional study of the Na content of white bread available for sale at twenty-five bakeries and markets in Mozambique. Flame photometry was used to quantify the Na content of the bread. The percentage of samples meeting manufacturer Na targets from South Africa and six countries from other regions, selected as benchmarks, was computed.

Maputo, Mozambique.

Three loaves of white bread from each selected bakery/market.

The mean Na content of bread was 450·3 mg/100 g (range: 254·9–638·3 mg/100 g), with no significant differences between bakeries and traditional markets. Most samples (88 %) did not meet the regulation in South Africa (≤380 mg/100 g). When considering the targets from other countries (range: ≤360–550 mg/100 g), the prevalence of non-compliance varied between 8 % and 92 %. There were no significant differences in the price of bread with Na content below and above the targets.

The content of Na in bread varies widely in Mozambique, reaching high values in a high proportion of the bakeries and markets in Maputo. Measures to regulate the Na content in bread may contribute to a reduction in Na intake and improved health at the population level.

Transparent evidence-based decision making has been promoted worldwide to engender trust in science and policy making. Yet, little attention has been given to transparency implementation. The degree of transparency (focused on how uncertain evidence was handled) during the development of folate and vitamin D Dietary Reference Values was explored in three a priori defined areas: (i) value request; (ii) evidence evaluation; and (iii) final values.

Qualitative case studies (semi-structured interviews and desk research). A common protocol was used for data collection, interview thematic analysis and reporting. Results were coordinated via cross-case synthesis.

Australia and New Zealand, Netherlands, Nordic countries, Poland, Spain and UK.

Twenty-one interviews were conducted in six case studies.

Transparency of process was not universally observed across countries or areas of the recommendation setting process. Transparency practices were most commonly seen surrounding the request to develop reference values (e.g. access to risk manager/assessor problem formulation discussions) and evidence evaluation (e.g. disclosure of risk assessor data sourcing/evaluation protocols). Fewer transparency practices were observed to assist with handling uncertainty in the evidence base during the development of quantitative reference values.

Implementation of transparency policies may be limited by a lack of dedicated resources and best practice procedures, particularly to assist with the latter stages of reference value development. Challenges remain regarding the best practice for transparently communicating the influence of uncertain evidence on the final reference values. Resolving this issue may assist the evolution of nutrition risk assessment and better inform the recommendation setting process.

To date, no data exist on the agreement of food choice measured using an online tool with subsequent actual consumption. This needs to be shown before food choice, measured by means of an online tool, is used as a dependent variable to examine intake in the general population.

A ‘web-buffet’ was developed to assess food choice.

Choice was measured as planned meal composition from photographic material; respondents chose preferred foods and proportions for a main meal (out of a possible 144 combinations) online and the validity was assessed by comparison of a meal composed from a web-buffet with actual food intake 24–48 h later. Furthermore, correlations of food preferences, energy needs and health interest with meals chosen from the web-buffet were analysed.

Students: n 106 (Study I), n 32 (Study II).

Meals chosen from the web-buffet (mean=2998 kJ, sd=471 kJ) agreed with actual consumption (rs=0·63, P<0·001) but were on average 367 kJ (10·5 %) lower in energy than consumed meals (mean=3480 kJ, sd=755 kJ). Preferences were highly associated with chosen amounts and health interest was negatively correlated with the energy selected (rs=−0·40, P<0·001).

Meal composition choice in the web-buffet agrees sufficiently well with actual intake to measure food choice as a dependent variable in online surveys. However, we found an average underestimation of subsequent consumption. High correlations of preferences with chosen amounts and an inverse association of health interest with total energy further indicate the validity of the tool. Applications in behavioural nutrition research are discussed.

In 2009, the US Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) began to provide participants with cash-value vouchers to purchase fruits and vegetables ($US 10 for women and $US 6 for children per month). The present paper assesses the potential effects of the new WIC incentives on fruit and vegetable purchases among WIC households in two New England states.

A pre–post assessment of changes in fruit and vegetable purchases after the WIC revisions in generalized estimating equation models.

Scanner data on grocery purchases from a regional supermarket chain in New England, USA.

WIC-participating households (n 2137) that regularly shopped at the chain during January–September 2009 and January–September 2010.

After the WIC revisions, purchases of fresh and frozen vegetables increased in volume by 17·5 % and 27·8 %, respectively. The biggest improvements were observed for fresh fruit, an increase of 28·6 %, adding almost a kilogram of fresh fruits per household per month. WIC households spent three times more of their WIC vouchers on purchasing fresh fruits than fresh vegetables. The magnitudes of substitution effects were relatively small: between 4 % (fresh fruit) and 13 % (canned vegetables) of the amounts purchased in 2009 with non-WIC funds were replaced by purchases made using WIC vouchers in 2010.

The provision of fruit and vegetable benefits in the revised WIC food packages increased overall purchases of fruits and vegetables among WIC-participating households in New England. Efforts to encourage consumption of fruits and vegetables by people receiving federal food assistance are paying off.

To investigate water contributors in relation to dietary and serum micronutrient profiles.

A cross-sectional study. The main exposures were water contributors. Selected dietary and serum micronutrient levels were outcome measures.

The US population and its subgroups.

US adults (n 2691) aged ≥20 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2006.

The daily mean total water intake was 3·1 (se 0·047) litres, with 68 % of adults consuming below the Adequate Intake level. Total water intake was higher in adults with higher BMI and physical activity, those taking dietary supplements and alcohol consumers (P < 0·05). Plain water intake was positively associated with food moisture and negatively with beverage moisture (P < 0·001). Beverage moisture was negatively associated with food moisture (P < 0·001). In multivariate regression analyses, plain water and food moisture intakes were positively associated with Fe, Ca, vitamins A, B, C, E and K and carotenoid intakes (P < 0·05). However, beverage moisture was unrelated to Ca, niacin and vitamin B6 intakes, and negatively associated with Fe, vitamin A, folate, vitamins C, E and K and carotenoid intakes (P < 0·05). Concentrations of serum vitamins A and C and carotenoids increased with plain water and food moisture intakes (P < 0·05) but decreased (P < 0·01) or were unrelated to beverage moisture intake.

Various contributors of total water intake differed in their associations with dietary and serum micronutrient profiles in US adults. The study provides evidence of plain water benefits on micronutrient adequacy over beverages.

To assess the association between breakfast energy and total daily energy intake among individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Cross-sectional study. Daily energy intake was computed from a 24 h dietary recall. Multiple regression models were used to estimate the association between daily energy intake (dependent variable) and quartiles of energy intake at breakfast (independent variable), expressed in either absolute or relative (percentage of total daily energy intake) terms. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts were used to test for linear and quadratic trends. Models were controlled for sex, age, race/ethnicity, BMI, physical activity and smoking. In addition, we used separate multiple regression models to test the effect of quartiles of absolute and relative breakfast energy on energy intake at lunch, dinner and snacks.

The 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Participants aged ≥30 years with self-reported history of diabetes (n 1146).

Daily energy intake increased as absolute breakfast energy intake increased (linear trend, P<0·0001; quadratic trend, P=0·02), but decreased as relative breakfast energy intake increased (linear trend, P<0·0001). In addition, while higher quartiles of absolute breakfast intake had no associations with energy intake at subsequent meals, higher quartiles of relative breakfast intake were associated with lower energy intake during all subsequent meals and snacks (P<0·05).

Consuming a breakfast that provided less energy or comprised a greater proportion of daily energy intake was associated with lower total daily energy intake in adults with type 2 diabetes.

To develop a policy formulation tool for strategically informing food and nutrition policy activities to promote healthy and sustainable diets (HSD).

A policy formulation tool consisting of two complementary components was developed. First, a conceptual framework of the environment–public health nutrition relationship was constructed to characterise and conceptualise the food system problem. Second, an ‘Orders of Food Systems Change’ schema drawing on systems dynamics thinking was developed to identify, assess and propose policy options to redesign food systems.

Food and nutrition policy activities to promote HSD have been politicised, fragmented and lacking a coherent conceptual and strategic focus to tackle complex food system challenges.

The tool’s conceptual framework component comprises three integrated dimensions: (i) a structure built around the environment and public health nutrition relationship that is mediated via the food system; (ii) internal mechanisms that operate through system dynamics; and (iii) external interactions that frame its nature and a scope within ecological parameters. The accompanying schema is structured around three orders of change distinguished by contrasting ideological perspectives on the type and extent of change needed to ‘solve’ the HSD problem.

The conceptual framework’s systems analysis of the environment–public health nutrition relationship sets out the food system challenges for HSD. The schema helps account for political realities in policy making and is a key link to operationalise the framework’s concepts to actions aimed at redesigning food systems. In combination they provide a policy formulation tool to strategically inform policy activities to redesign food systems and promote HSD.

To evaluate the relative validity and reliability of the SEARCH FFQ that was modified from the Block Kids Questionnaire.

Study participants completed the eighty-five-item FFQ twice plus three 24 h dietary recalls within one month. We estimated correlations between frequencies obtained from participants with the true usual intake for food groups and nutrients, using a two-part model for episodically consumed foods and measurement error adjustment.

The multi-centre SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Nutrition Ancillary Study.

A subgroup of 172 participants aged 10–24 years with type 1 diabetes.

The mean correlations, adjusted for measurement error, of food groups and nutrients between the FFQ and true usual intake were 0·41 and 0·38, respectively, with 57 % of food groups and 70 % of nutrients exhibiting correlations >0·35. Correlations were high for low-fat dairy (0·80), sugar-sweetened beverages (0·54), cholesterol (0·59) and saturated fat (0·51), while correlations were poor for high-fibre bread and cereal (0·16) and folate (0·11). Reliability of FFQ intake based on two FFQ administrations was also reasonable, with 54 % of Pearson correlation coefficients ≥0·5. Reliability was high for low-fat dairy (0·7), vegetables (0·6), carbohydrates, fibre, folate and vitamin C (all 0·5), but less than desirable for low-fat poultry and high-fibre bread, cereal, rice and pasta (0·2–0·3).

While there is some room for improvement, our findings suggest that the SEARCH FFQ performs quite well for the assessment of many nutrients and food groups in a sample of youth with type 1 diabetes.

To model effective vegetable parenting practices using the Model of Goal Directed Vegetable Parenting Practices construct scales.

An Internet survey was conducted with parents of pre-school children to assess their agreement with effective vegetable parenting practices and Model of Goal Directed Vegetable Parenting Practices items. Block regression modelling was conducted using the composite score of effective vegetable parenting practices scales as the outcome variable and the Model of Goal Directed Vegetable Parenting Practices constructs as predictors in separate and sequential blocks: demographics, intention, desire (intrinsic motivation), perceived barriers, autonomy, relatedness, self-efficacy, habit, anticipated emotions, perceived behavioural control, attitudes and lastly norms. Backward deletion was employed at the end for any variable not significant at P<0·05.

Houston, TX, USA.

Three hundred and seven parents (mostly mothers) of pre-school children.

Significant predictors in the final model in order of relationship strength included habit of active child involvement in vegetable selection, habit of positive vegetable communications, respondent not liking vegetables, habit of keeping a positive vegetable environment and perceived behavioural control of having a positive influence on child’s vegetable consumption. The final model’s adjusted R2 was 0·486.

This was the first study to test scales from a behavioural model to predict effective vegetable parenting practices. Further research needs to assess these Model of Goal Directed Vegetable Parenting Practices scales for their (i) predictiveness of child consumption of vegetables in longitudinal samples and (ii) utility in guiding design of vegetable parenting practices interventions.

To determine the effect of increasing fruit visibility, adding information and lowering price on fruit purchasing at a university cafeteria in Lima, Peru.

Quasi-experimental pilot study of a three-phase stepped intervention. In Phase 1, fruit was displayed >3 m from the point of purchase with no additional information. Phase 2 consisted in displaying the fruit near the point of purchase with added health and price information. Phase 3 added a 33 % price reduction. The duration of each phase was 3 weeks and phases were separated by 2-week breaks. Primary outcomes were total pieces of fruit and number of meals sold daily.

A university cafeteria in Lima, Peru.

Approximately 150 people, students and non-student adults, who purchased food daily. Twelve students participated in post-intervention interviews.

Fruit purchasing doubled from Phase 1 to Phase 3 (P<0·01) and remained significant after adjusting for the number of meals sold daily (P<0·05). There was no evidence of a difference in fruit sold between the other phases. Females purchased 100 % of the fruit in Phase 1, 82 % in Phase 2 and 67 % in Phase 3 (P<0·01). Males increased their purchasing significantly between Phase 1 and 3 (P<0·01). Non-student adults purchased more fruit with each phase (P<0·05) whereas students did not. Qualitatively, the most common reason for not purchasing fruit was a marked preference to buy unhealthy snack foods.

Promoting fruit consumption by product placement close to the point of purchase, adding health information and price reduction had a positive effect on fruit purchasing in a university cafeteria, especially in males and non-student adults.

To assess the potential contribution of foods fortified with folic acid (FA) to target population intakes when included as part of a healthy breakfast.

Breakfast models aligned with the Spanish Dietary Guidelines were studied using the recommended, average and 95th percentile of serving sizes consumed by women of childbearing age. Food composition data were obtained from a database including FA analytical data from sixty-eight products and the Spanish food composition tables. Different scenarios were assessed with the inclusion of one, two or three FA-fortified products and with two different fortification levels: ≤33 µg/serving (L1) and ≥70 µg/serving (L4). FA contents provided by the different models for each scenario were compared with the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for folate and the Upper Level (UL) of intake for FA.

Madrid Region, Spain.

Women aged 16–49 years were considered.

Overall, simulation of ten breakfast models and three scenarios of product inclusion accounted for 20–25 % of total daily energy recommendations for women. Unfortified breakfast models provided on average 4–23 % of the folate RNI. Inclusion of one L4 FA-fortified food contributed 20–60 % of the RNI. Fortified yoghurt and milk had the highest FA contents per serving. Scenarios with two or three fortified products delivered 40–80 % of the RNI. None of the evaluated models exceeded the FA UL.

At existing levels of FA fortification, inclusion of fortified products as part of a regular breakfast meal could positively impact the nutritional quality of women’s diet without involving a risk of excessive FA exposure.

To characterize the coverage of India's national vitamin A supplementation (VAS) programme and document its performance in reaching children in the districts with higher concentration of poor households (2006–2011).

Analysis of VAS programme coverage data collated and collected using standardized bottom-up procedures, data from India's Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, and data from India's District Level Household Survey to compute exposure (poverty) and outcome (full VAS coverage) variables.

Seven Indian states with the highest burden of mortality in children (74 % of all deaths among under-5s in the country in 2006).

Children 6–59 months old.

Between 2006 and 2011, the mean full VAS coverage (two VAS doses per child per year) in these seven states increased from 44·7 % to 67·3 % while the number of districts with high (≥80 %) full VAS coverage increased from twenty-four (9·4 %) to 131 (51·4 %). The highest increases in full VAS coverage figures were recorded in the districts with the highest concentration of poor households. The estimated number of poor children (i.e. children living in households classified as poor) who did not receive two VAS doses annually decreased from 8·5 million in 2006 to 5·1 million in 2011 (40·3 % decrease); 2·5 million (49·1 %) of these children lived in the districts with the lowest proportion of poor households.

Despite significant improvements in VAS, a large number of Indian children are not benefitting yet from this life-protecting intervention, particularly among those who are potentially the most vulnerable. Future programme action needs to give priority to sub-district level units – blocks and villages – with higher concentrations of poor households.

To study the effects of school lessons about healthy food on adolescents’ self-reported beliefs and behaviour regarding the purchase and consumption of soft drinks, water and extra foods, including sweets and snacks. The lessons were combined with the introduction of lower-calorie foods, food labelling and price reductions in school vending machines.

A cluster-randomized controlled design was used to allocate schools to an experimental group (i.e. lessons and changes to school vending machines) and a control group (i.e. ‘care as usual’). Questionnaires were used pre-test and post-test to assess students’ self-reported purchase of extra products and their knowledge and beliefs regarding the consumption of low-calorie products.

Secondary schools in the Netherlands.

Twelve schools participated in the experimental group (303 students) and fourteen in the control group (311 students). The students’ mean age was 13·6 years, 71·5 % were of native Dutch origin and mean BMI was 18·9 kg/m2.

At post-test, the experimental group knew significantly more about healthy food than the control group. Fewer students in the experimental group (43 %) than in the control group (56 %) reported bringing soft drinks from home. There was no significant effect on attitude, social norm, perceived behavioural control and intention regarding the consumption of low-calorie extra products.

The intervention had limited effects on students’ knowledge and self-reported behaviour, and no effect on their beliefs regarding low-calorie beverages, sweets or snacks. We recommend a combined educational and environmental intervention of longer duration and engaging parents. More research into the effects of such interventions is needed.

Food security (FS) exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their needs. The present research sought to determine whether students from households experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity (FI) had poorer diet quality, higher body weights and poorer psychosocial outcomes than students from households classed as having high FS or marginal FI status.

Population-based survey conducted in schools. Multiple regression analysis was used to explore associations between FS status (high FS; marginal, moderate, severe FI), dietary behaviours and intake, and health-related outcomes (body weight, quality of life, mood, peer relationships, externalizing problems).

Nova Scotia, Canada.

Grade 5 students (n 5853), aged 10–11 years, with complete information on FS status and student outcomes.

In this sample, rates of household FS were 73·5 % (high FS), 8·3 % (marginal FI) 10·2 % (moderate FI) and 7·1 % (severe FI status). Students living in households experiencing moderate or severe FI had poorer diet quality, higher BMI and poorer psychosocial outcomes than students classed as having high FS or marginal FI.

These findings provide important evidence for policy makers on the prevalence of FI among families in Nova Scotia with grade 5 children and its relationship with childhood nutrition, psychosocial and quality of life factors, and weight status.

The Balanced Menus Challenge (BMC) is a national effort to bring the healthiest, most sustainably produced meat available into health-care settings to preserve antibiotic effectiveness and promote good nutrition. The present study evaluated the outcomes of the BMC in the Maryland/Washington, DC region.

The BMC is a cost-effective programme whereby participating hospitals reduce meat purchases by 20 % of their budget, then invest the savings into purchasing sustainably produced meat. A mixed-methods retrospective assessment was conducted to assess (i) utilization of the BMC ‘implementation toolkit’ and (ii) achievement of the 20 % reduction in meat purchases. Previous survey data were reviewed and semi-structured interviews were conducted.

Hospitals located in the Maryland/Washington, DC region, USA, that adopted the BMC.

Twelve hospitals signed the BMC in the Maryland/Washington, DC region and six were available for interview.

Three hospitals in the Maryland/Washington, DC region that signed the BMC tracked their progress and two achieved a reduction in meat procurement by ≥20 %. One hospital demonstrated that the final outcome goal of switching to a local and sustainable source for meat is possible to achieve, at least for a portion of the meal budget. The three hospitals that reduced meat purchases also received and used the highest number of BMC implementation tools. There was a positive correlation between receipt and usage of implementation tools (r=0·93, P=0·005).

The study demonstrates that hospitals in the Maryland/Washington, DC region that sign the BMC can increase the amount of sustainably produced meat purchased and served.

The present study aimed to examine the role of health in consumers’ food purchasing decisions through investigating the nature of people’s discourse regarding health while conducting their food shopping.

The study employed the think-aloud technique as part of an accompanied shop. All mentions of health and terms relating to health were identified from the data set. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted to examine how health was talked about in relation to people’s food choice decisions.

Supermarkets in Dublin, Republic of Ireland and Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Participants (n 50) were aged over 18 years and represented the main household shopper.

Responsibility for others and the perceived need to illicit strict control to avoid ‘unhealthy’ food selections played a dominant role in how health was talked about during the accompanied shop. Consequently healthy shopping was viewed as difficult and effort was required to make the healthy choice, with shoppers relating to product-based inferences to support their decisions.

This qualitative exploration has provided evidence of a number of factors influencing the consideration of health during consumers’ food shopping. These results highlight opportunities for stakeholders such as public health bodies and the food industry to explore further ways to help enable consumers make healthy food choices.

To describe changes in consumption of different types of beverages from pre-pregnancy to early pregnancy, and to examine associations with maternal age, educational level and BMI.

Cross-sectional design. Participants answered an FFQ at inclusion into a randomized controlled trial, the Fit for Delivery (FFD) trial, in median gestational week 15 (range: 9–20), reporting current consumption and in retrospect how often they drank the different beverages pre-pregnancy.

Eight local antenatal clinics in southern Norway from September 2009 to February 2013.

Five hundred and seventy-five healthy pregnant nulliparous women.

Pre-pregnancy, 27 % reported drinking alcohol at least once weekly, compared with none in early pregnancy (P<0·001). The percentage of women drinking coffee (38 % v. 10 %, P<0·001), sugar-sweetened beverages (10 % v. 6 %, P=0·011) and artificially sweetened beverages (12 % v. 9 %, P=0·001) at least daily decreased significantly from pre-pregnancy to early pregnancy, while the percentage of women who reported to drink water (85 % v. 92 %, P<0·001), fruit juice (14 % v. 20 %, P=0·001) and milk (37 % v. 42 %, P=0·001) at least daily increased significantly. From pre-pregnancy to early pregnancy higher educated women reduced their consumption frequency of coffee significantly more than women with lower education. Older women reduced their consumption frequency of coffee and artificially sweetened beverages and increased their consumption frequency of fruit juice and milk significantly more than younger women.

There is a significant change in beverage consumption from pre-pregnancy to early pregnancy among Norwegian nulliparous women.

To develop a conceptually equivalent Chinese-language translation of the eighteen-item US Household Food Security Survey Module.

In the current qualitative study, we (i) highlight methodological challenges which arise in developing survey instruments that will be used to make comparisons across language groups and (ii) describe the development of a Chinese-language translation of the US Household Food Security Survey Module, called the San Francisco Chinese Food Security Module.

Community sites in San Francisco, CA, USA.

We conducted cognitive interviews with twenty-two community members recruited from community sites hosting food pantries and with five professionals recruited from clinical settings.

Development of conceptually equivalent surveys can be difficult. We highlight challenges related to dialect, education, literacy (e.g. preferences for more or less formal phrasing), English words and phrases for which there is no Chinese language equivalent (e.g. ‘balanced meals’ and ‘eat less than you felt you should’) and response formats. We selected final translations to maximize: (i) consistency of the Chinese translation with the intent of the English version; (ii) clarity; and (iii) similarities in understanding across dialects and literacy levels.

Survey translation is essential for conducting research in many communities. The challenges encountered illustrate how literal translations can affect the conceptual equivalence of survey items across languages. Cognitive interview methods should be routinely used for survey translation when such non-equivalence is suspected, such as in surveys addressing highly culturally bound behaviours such as diet and eating behaviours. Literally translated surveys lacking conceptual equivalence may magnify or obscure important health inequalities.

To examine the health status of ethnic minorities in Italy. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the association between anthropometric and blood parameters connected with health status.

A cross-sectional study. Anthropometric data were collected by direct measurements and blood glucose, total cholesterol and TAG were analysed.

Bologna, northern Italy.

A multi-ethnic sample of adult immigrants and Roma.

Significant correlations between anthropometric and blood parameters were found. Among the ethnic groups, Roma males had the highest values of glucose, total cholesterol and TAG. In the females the situation was more balanced among ethnic groups.

The data from this survey indicate that poor health status is a very common problem among ethnic groups living in Italy, especially the Roma. The use of anthropometric parameters as rapid indicators of health status in screenings of a large number of subjects could be an effective and cheap method to provide preliminary indications on individuals or ethnic groups at greater risk of poor health.

We investigated temporal trends in BMI, and assessed hypothesized predictors of trends including socio-economic position (SEP) and province-level economic development, in Argentina.

Using multivariable linear regression, we evaluated cross-sectional patterning and temporal trends in BMI and examined heterogeneity in these associations by SEP and province-level economic development with nationally representative samples from Argentina in 2005 and 2009. We calculated mean annual changes in BMI for men and women to assess secular trends.

Women, but not men, exhibited a strong cross-sectional inverse association between SEP and BMI, with the lowest-SEP women having an average BMI 2·55 kg/m2 greater than the highest-SEP women. Analysis of trends revealed a mean annual increase in BMI of 0·19 kg/m2 and 0·15 kg/m2 for women and men, respectively, with slightly greater increases occurring in provinces with greater economic growth. No significant heterogeneity in trends existed by individual SEP.

BMI is increasing rapidly over time in Argentina irrespective of various sociodemographic characteristics. Higher BMI remains more common in women of lower SEP compared with those of higher SEP.