Original Article
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) 60, 469–477. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602339; published online 14 December 2005
Gender differences in dietary intake among adults of Hindu communities in lowland Nepal: assessment of portion sizes and food consumption frequencies
Guarantor: N Sudo.
Contributors: NS was responsible for the nutritional studies in the field, data analysis and preparation of the manuscript with RO. MS collaborated in collection of food records, FFQ and anthropometric measurements and computation of food and nutrient intakes. MM was responsible for field studies from the beginning of the project and liaised with the local health workers. RO organized the study as the chief investigator and was responsible for time allocation study.
N Sudo1, M Sekiyama2, M Maharjan3 and R Ohtsuka4
- 1Department of Health Promotion and Research, National Institute of Public Health, Wako-shi, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
- 2The Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- 3Environment and Public Health Organization, New Baneswor, Kathmandu, Nepal
- 4National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
Correspondence: Dr N Sudo, Department of Health Promotion and Research, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako-shi, Saitama Prefecture 351-0197, Japan. E-mail: norikosu@niph.go.jp
Received 17 January 2005; Revised 22 July 2005; Accepted 20 September 2005; Published online 14 December 2005.
Abstract
Objective:
To elucidate gender differences in dietary intake among adults in lowland Nepalese communities.
Subjects and methods:
For 122 male and 195 female subjects aged 20 years and over from 94 randomly selected households, interviews using a 19-item food frequency questionnaire were conducted. To determine the portion sizes of these foods, the samples consumed by 56 subjects in a full 1-day period were weighed. Energy expenditure was estimated by time spent on daily activities.
Results:
Gender differences in per-day energy and protein intakes were related to sex differences in body size and energy expenditure. Apparent gender differences in the crude intakes disappeared when they were expressed by nutrient density (mg or 
g/MJ) since micronutrient intakes were significantly correlated with energy intake. However, males' iron intake was larger even after adjustment for energy intake, attributing to their larger portion sizes of commonly consumed staple foods and higher frequencies of consuming luxury foods (fish and tea).
Conclusion:
The intrahousehold unequal distribution of food incurs risk of iron deficiency among female subjects.
Sponsorship:
This study was financially supported by the Ajinomoto Foundation for Dietary Culture and the Alliance for Global Sustainability Program.
Keywords:
gender difference, lowland Nepal, food frequency questionnaire, weighed food record, intrahousehold food allocation, micronutrient intake
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