Trouble in Paradise: Food Insecurity in the Galapagos Islands

Most research to date in the Galapagos Islands has focused on the natural environment, resulting in permanent residents often feeling ignored. There has been one study prior to this one that has focused on the quality of life for human inhabitants of the Galapagos Islands (Page, 2013). This study of mother-child dyads took place on Isla Isabela. Evidence of the nutrition transition was found, as well as a high prevalence of other health-related issues, such as poor water quality, lack of access to medical care, and depression. The nutrition transition is characterized by a shift from traditional diets high in fiber and complex carbohydrates to diets high in fats, sweeteners and processed foods (Popkin, 2002). With this shift in dietary patterns comes a shift in disease burden, with increasing rates of overweight and obesity leading to noncommunicable diseases. In this study, we aimed to characterize the current food environment on the island and determine how the nutritional health of mothers and children are affected. Problems associated with food access will hopefully shed light on barriers to food security on the island, and typical intakes of mothers and children as well as general weight patterns will be described. We will frame our findings in the context of the global nutrition transition.Bachelor of Science in Public Healt