Changes in diet quality over 10 years of nutrition transition in Colombia: analysis of the 2005 and 2015 nationally representative cross-sectional surveys

Objectives: To describe the changes in diet quality in Colombians using nationally representative samples from the 2005 and 2015 nutrition surveys. Methods: Repeated cross-sectional analyses of the National Nutrition Surveys from 2005 and 2015. Children (4–17 y.o.) and adults (≥ 18 y.o.) were included. The Alternative Healthy-Eating Index (AHEI) was derived from 24-h recall questionnaires and used to examine diet quality. Results: A total of 33,971 participants (20,122 children, 13,849 adults) were included in 2005, and 26,445 participants (15,304 children, 11,141 adults) in 2015. Over the ten-year period, the AHEI decreased from 46.3 to 44.3 in children (Cohen’s d = 0.19) and from 49.0 to 46.2 in adults. (Cohen’s d = 0.25). On average, those in the highest socioeconomic level had the worst diet quality; however, the difference between the less and most affluent groups shrank by 4.0% over the observation period. Conclusions: Between 2005 and 2015, there was a worsening in the diet quality of Colombian children and adults. Less affluent individuals had a greater worsening of diet quality compared to groups from higher socioeconomic levels.