Food Security
Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2015
http://link.springer.com/journal/12571/7/1/page/1

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Original Paper
Where is the limit? lessons learned from long-term conservation agriculture research in Zimuto Communal Area, Zimbabwe
Christian Thierfelder, Munyaradzi Mutenje, Angeline Mujeyi

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Original Paper
The role of wild foods in food security: the example of Timor-Leste
William Erskine, Anita Ximenes, Diana Glazebrook, Marcelino da Costa…

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Original Paper
The effect of women’s home gardens on vegetable production and consumption in Bangladesh
Pepijn Schreinemachers, Marie Antoinette Patalagsa, Md. Rafiqul Islam…

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Original Paper
Food insecurity worldwide derived from food supply patterns
Eduardo Botti Abbade, Homero Dewes
Abstract
Worldwide, humanity is facing severe nutritional imbalances, which are dependent on access to food and the dietary habits of particular populations that can make them susceptible to malnutrition. This study aims to identify and analyze the main food supply patterns (FSPs) of populations worldwide, and then to relate them to their respective malnutrition conditions. The hypothesis is that there are specific, geographically identifiable FSPs that are associated with the nutritional misalignment of certain populations to a greater degree than others. This investigation is based on data regarding the supply of the main food groups worldwide, as well as the metrics associated with malnutrition. Data analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, cluster analysis, ANOVA, and correlation analysis. The results suggest the existence of nine clusters of countries with specific FSPs that differ significantly regarding their supplies of macronutrients and their malnutrition traits. Furthermore, using Pearson’s coefficient of variation (CV) to assess the balance level (or symmetry) of each FSP, reflecting the average supply of food groups, the results suggest the existence of a positive and significant correlation (r = 0.6364; p  = 0.000) between the imbalance level of particular FSPs and the prevalence of underweight children in their respective populations. Also, FSPs 1, 3, and 4 are strongly associated with obesogenic traits, with FSP 3 being the most strongly associated with the prevalence of overweight. According to our analyses, the FSPs of Southern Africa (with a strong prevalence of child overweight) and Southern Asia (with a strong prevalence of child underweight) lead to the worst conditions observed, while the populations with the best nutritional status are based on the FSP of Eastern Asia.