Low energy density, high nutrient adequacy and high nutrient density are each associated with higher diet costs in Chinese adults from Henan Province

Summary

This study investigates the economic implications of dietary quality in a Chinese adult population from Henan Province, assessing how energy density, nutrient adequacy, and nutrient density each relate to the cost of an individual's diet. The findings suggest that nutritionally superior diets — those that are lower in energy density and higher in nutrient content — tend to be more expensive, reinforcing the concept that healthier diets impose a greater financial burden on consumers. The paper contributes to growing evidence on the economic accessibility of nutritious diets in middle-income country contexts.

UK applicability

The findings are drawn from a specific provincial population in China and are not directly transferable to UK conditions; however, the broader relationship between diet quality and cost is a well-documented phenomenon in UK food policy debates, and the study adds comparative international evidence relevant to discussions on food affordability and dietary inequalities.

Key measures

Diet cost (currency per day or per unit energy); energy density (kJ/g or kcal/g); nutrient adequacy ratio or mean adequacy ratio; nutrient density scores; dietary intake data from dietary recall or food frequency questionnaire

Outcomes reported

The study examined the associations between diet cost and three dietary quality measures — energy density, nutrient adequacy, and nutrient density — in adults from Henan Province, China. It likely found that diets lower in energy density and higher in nutrient adequacy or nutrient density were associated with greater financial expenditure on food.

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