Food Insecurity, Dietary Patterns and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Windhoek, Namibia

This paper investigates the relationship between dietary patterns and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Windhoek based on data from a cross-sectional random sample of 863 households. We identify three major dietary patterns: starch–sugar–oil, fruits–vegetables, and meat–fish, which explain more than 43% of the variation in food consumption. High uptake levels of starch–sugar–oil diets are associated with diabetes, and also increase heart problems. Females were at greater risk of cardio-vascular disease (CVD) and hypertension, while there is an increased risk of disease with age. Highly food insecure residents in informal settlements displayed lower than expected rates of NCDs.