Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Western pattern diet
open-in-new
<p>The Western pattern diet is a modern dietary pattern originating in the <a href="/facts/Industrialized_society/h3QXzS6C">industrialized</a> <a href="/facts/Western_society/UQl4e7du">West</a> which is generally characterized by high intakes of <a href="/facts/Convenience_food/ayJbRMIt">pre-packaged foods</a>, <a href="/facts/Refined_grain/YjELwPKe">refined grains</a>, <a href="/facts/Red_meat/LemELNcF">red</a> and <a href="/facts/Processed_meat/LvyBpwac">processed meat</a>, <a href="/facts/High-sugar_drink/wrh7dUAC">high-sugar drinks</a>, <a href="/facts/Candy/X7kTJQAc">candy</a> and <a href="/facts/Dessert/1u079DYI">sweets</a>, <a href="/facts/Fried_foods/yGEEdm31">fried foods</a>, high-fat <a href="/facts/Dairy_product/rGVJUHVb">dairy products</a> (like <a href="/facts/Butter/FqydR0dC">butter</a>), <a href="/facts/Chicken_eggs/dRLxAGev">eggs</a>, <a href="/facts/Potatoes/F8jRVExs">potato</a> products, and <a href="/facts/Maize/lJ6c5xMH">corn</a> products (including <a href="/facts/High-fructose_corn_syrup/4dxMFKGK">high-fructose corn syrup</a>). Conversely, there are generally low intakes of <a href="/facts/Fruit/PBpuzk60">fruits</a>, <a href="/facts/Vegetable/j3AlDG64">vegetables</a>, <a href="/facts/Whole_grain/arLz8FWD">whole grains</a>, <a href="/facts/Fish_as_food/PEaSCDz3">fish</a>, <a href="/facts/Nut_(food)/Dze1rVx7">nuts</a>, and <a href="/facts/Seed/a4xGSLxJ">seeds</a>. The nature of production also affects the nutrient profile, as in the example of <a href="/facts/Intensive_animal_farming/YabemH5u">industrially produced animal</a> products versus <a href="/facts/Pasture-raised/erVIBks9">pasture-raised</a> animal products. </p><p>Dietary pattern analysis focuses on overall diets (such as the <a href="/facts/Mediterranean_diet/YrsjyyEH">Mediterranean diet</a>) rather than individual foods or nutrients. Compared to a so-called "prudent pattern diet", which has higher proportions of "fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and poultry", the Western pattern diet is associated with higher risks of <a href="/facts/Cardiovascular_disease/HD420nMv">cardiovascular disease</a> and <a href="/facts/Obesity/RBF9y5Vl">obesity</a>. </p>