The Nutrition Transition in Turkey: Trends in Energy and Macronutrients Supply from 1961 to 2011

Objective: It has been aimed to evaluate the differences occurred between 1961 and 2011 regarding the amounts of energy–macronutrients per capita in Turkey. Methods: Energy and macronutrient data (fat and protein) per capita between 1961 and 2011 for Turkey was downloaded from FAOSTAT data base as kg/year and then converted into g/day. The amount of carbohydrate per capita (g/day) was calculated. The changes in daily energy and macronutrient per capita were calculated according to each 10 years period (1961-1970, 1971-1980, 1981-1990, 1991-2000, 2001-2011) by taking the mean value for each period. Results: It was found out that there had been a 19.5% increase in the daily energy amount per capita in Turkey from 1961 to 2011. It was determined that the biggest increase in the amount of daily fat per capita was between 2001 and 2011 (11.5% increase, 107.2±7.90 g/day) and the amount of daily fat per capita increased 50.5% in total from 1961 to 2011. The amount of protein per capita increased around 10.6% between 1961 and 2011. the amount of carbohydrate per capita increased 11.3% between 1961 and 2011. It was found out that there was an increase in the amounts of energy and macronutrients per capita in Turkey from 1961 to 2011. Conclusion: That result is seemed to be an indicator for the increase in the food supply according to the development level of the country.