Nutrition transition in Morocco

Backgroud: The double burden of malnutrition and the emergence of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes further tax healthcare systems and can be an unbearable burden notably for emerging countries. Of note this double burden is often associated with the nutrition transition; a transition from a traditional local diet to an "industrialized" diet often rich in fat, salt, and sugar combined with low nutritional density. This transition is attributed to global changes in food systems which result in increased availability of foodstuffs marketed on a global level such as vegetable oils, sugars, refined flours, but also the multiplication of places of sale of processed foods, or even ultra-transformed. Morocco, like other African countries, is in a phase of rapid demographic, nutritional, and epidemiological transition. As a result, eating habits and lifestyles are changing, leading to the emergence of new health problems such as overweight and obesity. Methods: In order to assess the nutrition transition in Morocco and its effects on the health of the population, we have examined the various studies that have dealt with this problem. Furthermore, systematic analysis shows that exclusive breastfeeding rates have dropped from 51% in 1992 to 31% in 2004 to 27.8% in 2011, representing a drop of 23.2% in 19 years. Results:The analysis showed that children and adolescents are adopting new eating models to the detriment of the healthy "traditional Mediterranean diet". These new behaviors are the consequence of the context of family life and the modification of lifestyles (unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle ...). Concusion:  it is noteworthy that in the adult population, the cultural component remains the most determining factor in the definition of body size, especially in women.
Keywords: Nutrition transition, emerging countries, Morocco.