Objective: To assess the quality of the Belizean diet using an established metric and evaluate the relationships between diet, obesity and NR-NCD.

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of adults living in Belize was surveyed on dietary intake, obesity-related conditions and anthropometric measurements. Dietary intake from recalls and food frequency questionnaires were classified according to the Healthy Eating Index. Anthropometric data included weight, body mass index and percentage body fat.

Results: The study consisted of 192 participants. Fifty-nine percent of participants reported a “poor” quality diet and the majority had diets with insufficient intake in all categories of the HEI. Sixty-three percent of participants were overweight or obese and a significant relationship was found between HEI and weight. The relationship between diet quality and nutrition-related, non-communicable diseases was inconsistent.

Conclusions: Overall, participants in this study reported a poor quality diet. Given the rate of obesity and nutrition-related, non-communicable diseases, interventions are needed to improve nutritional intake among this population. Furthermore, our findings are suggestive of a nutritional transition in Belize. Younger participants, typically early adopters of “western” foods, had poorer diet quality. This suggests a dramatic change in dietary patterns and confirms the need for culturally appropriate, nutrition education initiatives.

diet quality, nutrition transition, Belize, obesity, chronic disease.