Food Consumption Patterns and Dietary Variety among Senior Civil Servants in Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68050/JAMS.2026.566Keywords:
Food consumption pattern; Dietary diversity; Civil servants; Nutrition; Food frequency; Nigeria; Dietary quality; Public health nutrition.Abstract
Background: Food consumption patterns and the variety of foods consumed are important dimensions of nutritional well-being. Changing lifestyles, urbanization and increased reliance on convenience foods have contributed to rising diet-related non-communicable diseases. This study assessed food consumption patterns and dietary variety among senior civil servants in Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive analysis was conducted among 222 senior civil servants selected through multistage sampling from ministries and government establishments. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire developed for the parent study and subjected to expert review and pretesting. Food-frequency data were analysed descriptively. Dietary variety was described from the range of food groups and food items reported in the food-frequency questionnaire; a validated dietary diversity score, recall-period score or diversity cutoff was not calculated.
Results: Respondents consumed foods from several food groups, but frequency varied substantially across items. For example, gari was consumed daily by 55.9% of respondents, beans three times a week by 37.8%, and oranges weekly by 31.5%. Milk products were generally infrequently consumed, while sugar and sweetened beverages were also present in the diet. These findings describe food-frequency patterns and food-group variety rather than a standardized dietary diversity score.
Conclusion: Respondents reported consumption from multiple food groups, but the frequency of nutrient-dense and energy-dense foods varied. Nutrition education and workplace-based interventions are recommended to promote healthier food choices. Because no validated dietary diversity score was calculated, the findings should be interpreted as descriptive evidence of dietary variety and food-consumption patterns.
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