Diet Quality in Albania: Evidence from the Diet quality questionnaire

¹Department of Food Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania

*Corresponding author; E-mail: vgurazi@ubt.edu.al

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Abstract

Albania is undergoing a nutrition transition; simultaneously rise in obesity and retained undernutrition, marking a public health challenge. Modern eating habits are gradually replacing traditional dietary patterns, especially among urban living young adults, where eating out is becoming more prevalent, while nutritional diversity remains uneven across demographic groups. These patterns highlight the need for systematic diet monitoring and practical, low-cost survey tools and provide guidance for policies that support more sustainable and healthy eating behaviors. This study assesses diet quality in Albania using the Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ). The Global Dietary Recommendations (GDR) score averaged 10.68/12, indicating generally high compliance, particularly among females (11.20) and urban residents (10.77), while males (9.53) and rural populations (9.67) fell significantly behind. On the opposite, the Non Communicable Disease (NCD) risk score of 3.11/5 indicates moderate intake of foods associated with the risk of NCD-s, with males (4.22) and rural respondents (3.73) showing higher exposure, whereas females (2.61) had a healthier profile. Overall diet quality, as measured by the all-5 indicator, showed that 59% of respondents reported consumption of key healthy food groups: vegetables (93%), fruits (88%), and animal-source foods (98%, including dairy and eggs), alongside a substantial proportion consuming pulses, nuts, or seeds (72%). These findings indicate that this diet is generally in line with healthy standards. However, clear gender and geographic disparities remain, especially among males and rural communities. Therefore, it is essential to develop public health strategies specifically designed to promote the consumption of protective foods and reduce risk-prone foods.

Keywords: Diet quality, GDR score, NCD-risk, nutrition policy, eating behaviors.