Food Habits and Dietary Patterns of the Tunisian Population

Objective: This article is a reflection on the food transition  in  Tunisia .This study aimed to characterize food consumption among Tunisian population assessing quality of diet and main dietary patterns, and their association with  socioeconomic and  anthropometric factors.

Methods :

This analysis was based on data collected from 400 adult participants in Tunisia. The data included socioeconomic factors, eating habits, and food frequency consumption.

Descriptive statistics, PCA, and logistic regression were performed using SPSS version 21.

Results : 

Modern products are now an integral part of consumers' daily routines, with over half of the respondents frequently snacking. Although the home remains the favored setting for shared meals, fast food is gaining importance.

The results of PCA  show a trend of modernization / westernization of the diet.  Using principal component analysis (PCA), we identified three dietary patterns among 400 adult participants from Tunisia: the Mediterranean diet (11.906%), the Western diet (10.668%), and the high protein diet (9.159%). Additionally, socioeconomic factors accounted for 28.505% of the variance. These findings highlight the evolving dietary habits in Tunisia, shaped by both traditional and modern dietary trends, and underscore the significant role of socioeconomic status in influencing these patterns.The analysis of the association between obesity and the identified dietary patterns, as well as socioeconomic factors, revealed that both socioeconomic status and adherence to a Western diet were significantly linked to a higher likelihood of obesity (OR 1.935 [95% CI: 1.436-2.608] and OR 1.439 [95% CI: 1.078-1.921], respectively). In contrast, no significant association was found between obesity and either the Mediterranean diet or the high-protein diet.

Conclusion : This study indicates that socioeconomic factors and adherence to a Western diet are significantly associated with an increased risk of obesity among participants in Tunisia. These findings suggest that tackling socioeconomic disparities and encouraging healthier dietary patterns may be essential in combating obesity in the region.