Uzbekistan has been identified as the country with the poorest diet in the world, according to a global study. The study found that the former Soviet republic records 892 diet-related deaths per 100,000 people a year, the highest rate in the world.
The study, conducted by the Global Burden of Disease, examined the dietary habits of 195 countries between 1990 and 2017. It found that Uzbekistan has the highest rate of diet-related deaths, followed by Afghanistan (855 per 100,000 people) and the Marshall Islands (841 per 100,000 people).
The study also revealed that the countries with the poorest diets are also the countries with the highest rates of malnutrition. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in three people in Uzbekistan are malnourished, with more than half of all children under the age of five suffering from stunted growth.
The poor diet in Uzbekistan is largely attributed to the country’s reliance on a diet of carbohydrates and animal fats, with very little fresh fruit and vegetables. This diet is high in calories but low in essential vitamins and minerals, leading to deficiencies in essential nutrients.
The study also found that the countries with the poorest diets are also the countries with the highest rates of non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. This is largely due to the high consumption of processed foods, which are high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats.
The study highlights the need for governments in countries with the poorest diets to take action to improve the quality of their citizens’ diets. This could include introducing food labeling laws, providing nutrition education and increasing access to fresh fruit and vegetables.
Overall, the study has highlighted the importance of a healthy diet in reducing the risk of diet-related diseases and improving the overall health of a population. It is clear that governments in countries with the poorest diets need to take action to improve the quality of their citizens’ diets.