TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving health and carbon footprints of European diets using a benchmarking approach
AU - Mertens, Elly
AU - Kuijsten, Anneleen
AU - Kanellopoulos, Argyris
AU - Dofková, Marcela
AU - Mistura, Lorenza
AU - D'Addezio, Laura
AU - Turrini, Aida
AU - Dubuisson, Carine
AU - Havard, Sabrina
AU - Trolle, Ellen
AU - Eckl, Marion
AU - Biesbroek, Sander
AU - Bloemhof, Jacqueline
AU - Geleijnse, Johanna M
AU - van 't Veer, Pieter
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify diets with improved nutrient quality and environmental impact within the boundaries of dietary practices.DESIGN: We used Data Envelopment Analysis to benchmark diets for improved adherence to food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG). We then optimised these diets for dietary preferences, nutrient quality and environmental impact. Diets were evaluated using the Nutrient Rich Diet score (NRD15.3), diet-related greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) and a diet similarity index that quantified the proportion of food intake that remained similar as compared with the observed diet.SETTING: National dietary surveys of four European countries (Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy and France).SUBJECTS: Approximately 6500 adults, aged 18-64 years.RESULTS: When dietary preferences were prioritised, NRD15·3 was ~6 % higher, GHGE was ~4 % lower and ~85 % of food intake remained similar. This diet had higher amounts of fruit, vegetables and whole grains than the observed diet. When nutrient quality was prioritised, NRD15·3 was ~16 % higher, GHGE was ~3 % lower and ~72 % of food intake remained similar. This diet had higher amounts of legumes and fish and lower amounts of sweetened and alcoholic beverages. Finally, when environmental impact was prioritised, NRD15·3 was ~9 % higher, GHGE was ~21 % lower and ~73 % of food intake remained similar. In this diet, red and processed meat partly shifted to either eggs, poultry, fish or dairy.CONCLUSIONS: Benchmark modelling can generate diets with improved adherence to FBDG within the boundaries of dietary practices, but fully maximising health and minimising GHGE cannot be achieved simultaneously.
AB - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify diets with improved nutrient quality and environmental impact within the boundaries of dietary practices.DESIGN: We used Data Envelopment Analysis to benchmark diets for improved adherence to food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG). We then optimised these diets for dietary preferences, nutrient quality and environmental impact. Diets were evaluated using the Nutrient Rich Diet score (NRD15.3), diet-related greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) and a diet similarity index that quantified the proportion of food intake that remained similar as compared with the observed diet.SETTING: National dietary surveys of four European countries (Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy and France).SUBJECTS: Approximately 6500 adults, aged 18-64 years.RESULTS: When dietary preferences were prioritised, NRD15·3 was ~6 % higher, GHGE was ~4 % lower and ~85 % of food intake remained similar. This diet had higher amounts of fruit, vegetables and whole grains than the observed diet. When nutrient quality was prioritised, NRD15·3 was ~16 % higher, GHGE was ~3 % lower and ~72 % of food intake remained similar. This diet had higher amounts of legumes and fish and lower amounts of sweetened and alcoholic beverages. Finally, when environmental impact was prioritised, NRD15·3 was ~9 % higher, GHGE was ~21 % lower and ~73 % of food intake remained similar. In this diet, red and processed meat partly shifted to either eggs, poultry, fish or dairy.CONCLUSIONS: Benchmark modelling can generate diets with improved adherence to FBDG within the boundaries of dietary practices, but fully maximising health and minimising GHGE cannot be achieved simultaneously.
U2 - 10.1017/S1368980020003341
DO - 10.1017/S1368980020003341
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32962783
SN - 1368-9800
VL - 24
SP - 565
EP - 575
JO - Public Health Nutrition
JF - Public Health Nutrition
IS - 3
ER -