Trends in nutrition in Greece: use of international data to monitor national developments.

With the purpose of studying trends in nutrition in Greece, data from the Food Balance Sheets about the calorie and nutrient intakes were analysed. During the period 1961-86, the average per capita consumption of calories increased by 26.6%, while the calories obtained exclusively from animal sources increased by 106%. The average protein intake rose by 29.9%. Animal proteins increased by 90.6% and their proportion reached 51.5%. Lipid intake increased by 62.2%; in particular animal fats went up by 114.3%. It is concluded that the most important changes in nutrition in Greece during the study period were (a) the increase in total calorie intake, and (b) the rise in total fat consumption and especially the vertical increase in consumption of animal fats. These developments show a change to the traditional pattern of the Greek diet.