Dietary diversity score

Definition

The Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) is the number of food groups consumed the previous day or night, of the ten food groups used in the MDD-W indicator: 1) grains, white roots and tubers, and plantains, 2) pulses (beans, peas and lentils), 3) nuts and seeds, 4) dairy, 5) meat, poultry, and fish, 6) eggs, 7) dark green leafy vegetables, 8) other vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables, 9) other vegetables, and 10) other fruits. The score ranges from 0 to 10 expressed as an average score for the population with a higher score indicating inclusion of more food groups in the diet.

Relevance

A higher Dietary Diversity Score is associated with higher nutrient intakes. It is an indicator of micronutrient adequacy, and can be used to assess gender equity of dietary diversity.