The aim of this study was to determine the trend in different diet quality scores and dietary CO 2 emissions in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) and globally.
We used data from the global dietary database to assess diet quality using Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), modified Planetary Health Diet index (PHDI), and Mediterranean diet (MED).
CO 2 -equivalents (CO 2 eq) emissions were calculated using carbon footprint methodology and compared by Wilcoxon test.
PHDI was slightly higher in the world than EMR and increased somewhat in EMR and in the world.
The MED trend showed small variations in the EMR, and remained higher in EMR compared with the world.
The aim of this study was to determine the trend in different diet quality scores and dietary CO 2 emissions in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) and globally. We used data from the global dietary database to assess diet quality using Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), modified Planetary Health Diet index (PHDI), and Mediterranean diet (MED). CO 2 -equivalents (CO 2 eq) emissions were calculated using carbon footprint methodology and compared by Wilcoxon test. The average of dietary CO 2 eq emissions increased from 2228 in 1990 to 2370 g CO 2 eq/kg in 2018 in the EMR and from 1929 to 2309 g CO 2 eq/kg in the world. DASH score declined over time in EMR, but remained almost identical in the world. PHDI was slightly higher in the world than EMR and increased somewhat in EMR and in the world. The MED trend showed small variations in the EMR, and remained higher in EMR compared with the world. Although DASH and MED diet scores in the EMR were slightly higher than the world, dietary CO 2 eq emissions were greater in the EMR than the world, which underscore the need for region-specific changes in food intake to achieve a nutritionally adequate and sustainable diet.
