9% of Armenia's Population Do Not Consume Fruits and Vegetables Daily

The rector of Yerevan State Medical University, Armen Muradyan, wrote on his Facebook page: "9% of Armenia's population do not consume any fruits and vegetables throughout the day, while 41% consume only 1-2 servings instead of the recommended 5. The normal and healthy functioning of the human body, along with its physical and mental proper development, can only occur under conditions of ensuring the completeness and safety of food, which is largely dependent on the proper selection and intake of food products.

It is known that both insufficient and excessive consumption of food can be harmful, leading to a number of diseases. An unhealthy diet is considered one of the main risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diseases of the circulatory system, malignant neoplasms, and diabetes mellitus.

In recent years, the increase in the production of processed foods, urbanization, and changes in lifestyle have led to alterations in people's dietary structures, reflected by an increase in the consumption of high-calorie foods, trans fats, rapidly digestible carbohydrates, and salty products. Meanwhile, the consumption of fruits and vegetables remains at insufficient levels.

Studies show that the consumption of fruits and vegetables in Armenia is predominantly seasonal. Moreover, 9% of the Armenian population do not consume any fruits and vegetables during the day, while 41% consume only 1-2 servings instead of the recommended 5.

Data from research conducted in Armenia indicates that the majority of the population primarily uses vegetable oil when cooking (65.6% of households), while 27.6% use butter or margarine. However, the amount of butter and margarine used in rural areas has been double that in urban areas, and the use of animal fats such as pig, beef, or sheep fat is about five times higher.

An unhealthy diet is linked to the issue of excessive weight. According to international research on “Health Behavior of School-aged Children” conducted in Armenia, 13% of the groups aged 11-15 and 17 years have been overweight, including about 2% classified as obese. Furthermore, the results of the demographic and health survey in Armenia indicate an increasing trend in the prevalence of overweight among children under 5 years old. The findings of this study also highlight the widespread deficiency of micronutrients among pregnant women.

The caloric intake from food must be balanced with the energy expenditure of the body. To avoid excessive weight, the quantity of fats should not exceed 30% of the consumed calories, saturated fats should be less than 10%, and trans fats should be less than 1% of calories. A key component of a healthy diet also includes reducing rapidly digestible carbohydrates to 10% of total calories and limiting salt intake to 5 grams per day (equivalent to 2 grams of sodium).

Governments play a significant role in creating a healthy food environment, which will enable the population to maintain healthy eating behaviors. In this regard, it is crucial to ensure the alignment of national policies and investment programs, stimulate consumer demand for healthy food products, raise awareness about healthy dietary practices, and provide consultative assistance to the population regarding dietary issues in primary healthcare settings.