Paulo Linda Simon, Lenters Virissa C, Chillo Pilly, Wanjohi Milka, Piedade Gonçalo J, Mende Daniel R, Harris Vanessa, Kamuhabwa Appolinary, Kwesigabo Gideon, Asselbergs Folkert W, Klipstein-Grobusch K
Julius Global Health, Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Department of Development Studies, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
J Health Popul Nutr. 2025 Mar 8;44(1):71. doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-00774-w.
Like other Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, Tanzania is undergoing socio-economic changes that impact lifestyles and dietary choices. Traditionally, differences in dietary habits between rural and urban areas in Tanzania and other SSA countries were prominent. However, recent research indicates converging lifestyles and dietary choices associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases. The objective of the current study was hence to investigate differences and similarities in dietary patterns, energy, and food groups intake in urban and rural Tanzania.
Dietary habits were assessed by use of a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for 442 respondents aged 44-65 years in urban (Ubungo -Dar es Salaam) and rural (Kilindi- Tanga) districts of Tanzania. Dietary patterns were determined using Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Bivariate analyses identified determinants of dietary patterns in urban and rural Tanzania.
Two dietary patterns, a "mixed pattern" characterized by whole grains, potatoes, fruits, vegetables, meat, fried potatoes and tubers, alcohol, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), sugar and sweets, and added oils and a "plant-rich pattern" characterized by whole grains, fruits, pulses and peas, seasoning vegetables and salads, SSB, sugar and sweets, and added oils were identified. Urban residents contributed more to the mixed pattern, while rural residents had a higher contribution to the plant-rich pattern. Overall, dietary diversity was greater in urban than rural Tanzania. The estimated median daily energy intake was 2,902 kcal (IQR: 1449.2) with a lower energy intake in rural (2,817 kcal, IQR: 1,274) as compared to urban residents (3,052 kcal, IQR: 1558) (p = 0.021). The percent contribution to the median average daily energy intake for grains, fruits, and milk was higher in rural than urban participants. No differences were observed for meat, poultry and eggs.
We identified two distinct dietary patterns: a "mixed pattern" prominent in urban and a "plant-rich pattern" more common in rural. Urban diets were more diverse with slightly higher energy intake. These findings underscore the effects of urbanization on diets and the need for targeted nutritional intervention for both rural and urban populations.
与撒哈拉以南非洲（SSA）的其他国家一样，坦桑尼亚正在经历影响生活方式和饮食选择的社会经济变革。传统上，坦桑尼亚和其他SSA国家城乡地区的饮食习惯差异显著。然而，最近的研究表明，生活方式和饮食选择的趋同与心血管代谢疾病风险增加有关。因此，本研究的目的是调查坦桑尼亚城乡地区饮食模式、能量和食物组摄入量的差异与相似之处。
通过使用食物频率问卷（FFQ）对坦桑尼亚城市（乌本戈-达累斯萨拉姆）和农村（基林迪-坦噶）地区442名年龄在44-65岁的受访者的饮食习惯进行评估。使用主成分分析（PCA）确定饮食模式。双变量分析确定了坦桑尼亚城乡地区饮食模式的决定因素。
确定了两种饮食模式，一种是“混合模式”，其特点是全谷物、土豆、水果、蔬菜、肉类、炸土豆和块茎、酒精、含糖饮料（SSB）、糖和甜食以及添加油；另一种是“植物丰富模式”，其特点是全谷物、水果、豆类和豌豆、调味蔬菜和沙拉、SSB、糖和甜食以及添加油。城市居民对混合模式的贡献更大，而农村居民对植物丰富模式的贡献更高。总体而言，坦桑尼亚城市的饮食多样性高于农村。估计每日能量摄入量中位数为2902千卡（IQR：1449.2），农村居民（2817千卡，IQR：1274）的能量摄入量低于城市居民（3052千卡，IQR：1558）（p = 0.021）。农村参与者的谷物、水果和牛奶对每日能量摄入量中位数的贡献百分比高于城市参与者。肉类、家禽和蛋类未观察到差异。
我们确定了两种不同的饮食模式：城市中突出的“混合模式”和农村中更常见的“植物丰富模式”。城市饮食更多样化，能量摄入量略高。这些发现强调了城市化对饮食的影响以及对城乡人口进行有针对性营养干预的必要性。
