American
International
University-
Bangladesh

Students & Supervisors

Abstract

Bangladesh has experienced positive developments in food production, yet a large population continues to experience undernourishment, anemia, and an increasing chronic disease burden due to poor diets. The most important issue is that the food system remains centered mainly on rice and other staple foods, and there is still limited access to a range of safe, affordable, healthy foods. The proposed study will (i) discuss the relationship between various components of the food system (production, markets, and household access) and diet quality and (ii) evaluate the relationship between these components and nutrition outcomes in Bangladeshi households. We used a cross-sectional household dataset of Bangladeshi households that contains data on food intake, market availability, and simple health indicators. Scores for dietary diversity, consumption of fruits, vegetables, pulses, fish and eggs, and milk, and consumption of ultra-processed junk foods were computed. Our analysis used correlation analysis to examine relationships between variables in the food system and nutrition outcomes. The effects of dietary diversity and market access on body mass index and anemia status were estimated using multiple linear regression models that controlled for socio-economic factors. The difference-in-means and proportion tests were used to examine differences between rural and urban households and between poor and better-off groups. A positive correlation was found between greater dietary diversity and more favorable nutrition outcomes, a greater likelihood of reduced anemia, and a negative correlation with worse nutritional indicators and greater consumption of junk food. The regression findings showed that enhanced market access and increased consumption of nutrient-rich foods had a significant positive effect on nutrition. It was found that there were apparent disparities between rural and urban households, and between poor and non-poor households. A food system change strategy that converts the current food system to a range of safe, affordable, nutritious foods and limits the consumption of unhealthy processed foods can have a significant positive effect on nutrition outcomes in Bangladesh

Keywords

Publication Details

• Type of Publication:
• Conference Name: Gazipur Agricultural University International Conference (GAUIC 2025)
• Date of Conference: 12/12/2025 - 12/12/2025
• Venue: Gazipur Agricultural University, Gazipur,Bangladesh
• Organizer: Gazipur Agricultural University