How prices and income influence global patterns in saturated fat intake by age, sex and world region: a cross-sectional analysis of 160 countries

Amelia Ahles, Andrew Muhammad*, Jacqueline N. Yenerall, Julia Reedy, Peilin Shi, Jianyi Zhang, Frederick Cudhea, Josh Erndt-Marino, Victoria Miller, Dariush Mozaffarian, Pamela Abbott, Morteza Abdollahi, Parvin Abedi, Suhad Abumweis, Linda Adair, Mohannad Al Nsour, Iftikhar Alam, Nasser Al-Daghri, Shaun Sabico, Nawal Ai AlhamadSuad Al-Hooti, Eman Alissa, Sameer Al-Zenki, Simon Anderson, Karim Anzid, Carukshi Arambepola, Mustafa Arici, Joanne Arsenault, Renzo Asciak, Lajos Biró, Noël Barengo, Simon Barquera, Juan Rivera Dommarco, Daniel Illescas-Zarate, Luz Maria Sánchez-Romero, Sonia Rodriguez Ramirez, Ivonne Ramirez Silva, Murat Bas, Wulf Becker, Sigrid Beer-Borst, Per Bergman, Anna Karin Lindroos, Jessica Petrelius Sipinen, Lotta Moraeus, Sesikeran Boindala, Pascal Bovet, Yu Chen, Johanna M. Geleijnse

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective When considering proposals to improve diets, it is important to understand how factors like price and income can affect saturated fat (SF) intake and demand. In this study, we examine and estimate the influence of price and income on intake across 160 countries, by age and sex, and derive sensitivity measures (price elasticities) that vary by age, sex and world region. Design We econometrically estimate intake responsiveness to income and prices across countries, accounting for differences by world region, age and sex. Intake data by age, sex and country were obtained from the 2018 Global Dietary Database. These data were then linked to global price data for select food groups from the World Bank International Comparison Programme and income data from the World Development Indicators Databank (World Bank). Results Intake differences due to price were highly significant, with a 1% increase in price associated with a lower SF intake (% energy/d) of about 4.3 percentage points. We also find significant differences across regions. In high-income countries, median (age 40) intake reductions were 1.4, 0.8 and 0.2 percentage points, given a 1% increase in the price of meat, dairy, and oils and fats, respectively. Price elasticities varied with age but not sex. Intake differences due to income were insignificant when regional binary variables were included in the analysis. Conclusion The results of this study show heterogeneous associations among prices and intake within and across countries. Policymakers should consider these heterogeneous effects as they address global nutrition and health challenges.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere074562
JournalBMJ Open
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Jan 2024

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