Trends in nutritional intakes and nutrition-related cardiovascular disease risk factors in Lebanon : the Need for Immediate Action

Abstract EN

AIM : To examine the burden of cardio- vascular disease (CVD) risk factors and their associa-tion with dietary variables in the Lebanese population while reviewing secular trends in the population’s nu-tritional intakes and nutrition-related CVD risk factors.

METHODS : Data on CVD risk factors and food con- sumption patterns in Lebanon were collected from scholarly papers, including individual studies and systematic review articles.

Electronic databases were searched using combinations of key terms.

RESULTS : The prevalence of obesity in Lebanon fol-lowed an alarming increasing trend over time, paral-leled by an escalation in the prevalence of hyperten sion, diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

Food consumption surveys illustrate an increasing trend in energy intake and the proportion of energy derived from fat and animal products, with a concomitant decrease in car- bohydrates and cereals intakes.

CONCLUSION : The shift towards an atherogenic diet coupled with the alarming increase in nutrition-related cardiovascular risk factors suggest that the Lebanese population is at an increased risk for CVDs.

This should alert to the importance of formulating multi- component intervention strategies at both the indivi-dual and population levels to halt the progression of nutrition-related diseases in the country, while high- lighting the need for immediate public health efforts to promote the adoption of healthy dietary habits.