Colombia Nutritional Aspects

Catalina Castillo Montagut
Master Program in Food Technology
Nutrition and dietetics

___________________________________________________________________________________________________COLOMBIA

1. General Information.

1.1 Geographical items: Colombia is one of the American countries that is located in the northeast region of South America. Is the only nation in South America that has the privilege of have seas in the Caribbean sea and in the pacific Ocean. In the Caribbean has 3 islands San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina and in the Pacific coast Gorgona,Gorgonilla, Malpelo. Border with Panamá in the Northweast, Venezuela and Brasil in the east, Perú un the south and Ecuador in the southwest. Colombia is organized as a unitary decentralized republic. Has 32 departments and the capital is Bogotá. The area is 2’070.408 km2 in which 1’141.748km2 are continental and the 928.66n km2 are coast. Is the fourth nation in South América and with a populationof 46 million people is the third one in Latin América after Brasil and México.
1.2 Economic Situation: Colombia is the fourth economy according to the International Monetary Fund and fifth according to the World Bank. The economy had been growing up with an annual average of 5.5% since 2002. In 2007 20, 5 million of people had work having a GDP per capita of US$ 9700 producing US $429.500 millions for the GDP of the country. However 29.2% of the population lives in poverty. In 2007 the agriculture gives 11.5% to the National GDP and 22.7% of the people work in fishery, agriculture and livestock. However the main export product is petroleum. Another main industries are mining , textile, food, petrochemicals and transport machinery. Is one of the economical centers in LatinAmerica and in 2009 was the 27 economy in the world.

2. Nutritional situation

2.1 Eating habits: In Colombia is common to have 5 meals per day, breakfast, mid- morning, lunch, mid afternoon and dinner. The bigger foods are Breakfast and lunch. The dishes change per region in the country. In general in Colombia is not common to have a healthy diet. The 39% of the population between 5 and 64years, do not consume dairy products
The people with the lowest income the percentage is 47.3% . In the rural areas the consumption is more than in the urban areas (50.3% vs 35.2%). The consumption of fruits and vegetables also is not appropriate. In the first case one of each 3 Colombians do not consume fruits all days. The population between 31-64 years have the lowest consumption( 38%). In thecase of vegetables five of each seven (71.9%) between 5 and 64 years do not consume vegetables all days. In the population under 18 each 3 of four do not eat vegetables all days. In the region where the consumption is the lowest in the central region. About the protein source one of each seven Colombians between 5 and 64 years do not eat meats or eggs everyday. In the urban areas theconsumption is bigger than in the rural areas( Urban 87.3% and rural 79.2%). Bogotá has the highest consumption.
One of each four (24.5%) between 5 and 64 years eat junk food every week. The people between 14 and 30 years have the highest rate and the consumption is higher in the urban areas. Another problem is the high consumption of soda; one of each five consume soda per day and one of each two perweek. Finally in Colombia the consumption of candies is high. One of each 3 Colombians consumed dialy. 17.8% consume two or more times per day. The consumption is 12 percentage points bigger in the urban areas in comparison with rural areas

2.2 Breastfeeding and supplementary feeding.
In Colombia, 96% of the women start to breastfeeding their newborns and a little bit more of the half of the...