1. Western Pattern Diet Overview:
– Consumption of meat, grains, fruits, and vegetables has risen in America since 1910.
– The diet is rich in red meat, dairy products, processed foods, and salt.
– Macronutrient intake in the Western pattern diet falls within Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges.
– Energy-density of the diet has increased over time.
– Average American adult intake is estimated to be around 2,390 kcal per day.
– Review in 2004 found 75% of restaurant meals were from fast-food restaurants.
2. Health Implications of Western Pattern Diet:
– Correlated with elevated obesity rates.
– Raises the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other diet-related diseases.
– Exacerbates symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
– Linked to increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
– Associated with high levels of fasting insulin, HDL cholesterol, and leptin.
3. Environmental Impact and Global Trends:
– Transition to a westernized diet leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
– Westernized diets contribute to emissions due to global food supply chains.
– Increasing per capita incomes lead to urbanization and dietary changes.
– Diets become the main driver for emissions in developed nations.
– Shift towards Western dietary patterns in developing countries.
– Increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in children due to globalization of food choices.
4. Evolution and History of Western Diet:
– Originated in the 20th century and influenced by industrialization and globalization.
– Evolution from the Neolithic and Industrial Revolutions.
– Introduction of staple foods like domesticated meats, sugar, dairy, cereals, refined sugars, and vegetable oils.
– Recent trends include the use of high-fructose corn syrup as a sugar substitute.
– Daily energy supply per capita varies across regions.
5. Dietary Patterns and Disease Risk:
– Western dietary pattern increases the risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
– Mediterranean diet shows protective effects against cancer.
– Link between dietary patterns and hormone-related cancers.
– Influence on hormonal balance and estrogen levels, especially in women.
– Importance of promoting healthy dietary habits and sustainable food systems globally.
The Western pattern diet is a modern dietary pattern that is generally characterized by high intakes of pre-packaged foods, refined grains, red meat, processed meat, high-sugar drinks, candy and sweets, fried foods, industrially produced animal products, butter and other high-fat dairy products, eggs, potatoes, corn (and high-fructose corn syrup), and low intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pasture-raised animal products, fish, nuts, and seeds.
Dietary pattern analysis focuses on overall diets (such as the Mediterranean diet) rather than individual foods or nutrients. Compared to the "prudent pattern diet", which has higher proportions of "fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and poultry", the Western pattern diet is associated with higher risks of cardiovascular disease and obesity.
