Selected food availability and sugar-related imports as indicators of dietary transition in Samoa, 2010–2023

Small island developing states experience a high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), partly in the context of rapid dietary and food-system change. In Samoa, increasing availability of imported and energy-dense foods may be contributing to a shift in the national food environment. This study examined temporal trends in selected food-availability indicators and sugar-related imports in Samoa between 2010 and 2023. A retrospective ecological time-series study was conducted using secondary data from FAOSTAT and the United Nations Comtrade Database. Food availability was measured in kcal/capita/day, and sugar and non-alcoholic beverage imports were measured using annual import values in nominal US dollars. Trends were assessed using percentage change and simple linear regression, while ecological associations were examined using Pearson correlation analysis. Published obesity estimates were used only to provide public health context and were not included in the statistical analyses. Root crop availability declined by 81.6% over the study period, while vegetable-oil availability increased by 41.8% and sugar availability increased by 17.3%. Sugar import values remained relatively stable, whereas non-alcoholic beverage import values increased by 241.0%. Linear regression demonstrated a significant increase in vegetable-oil availability (β = 7.30 kcal/capita/day per year, p = 0.018) and a significant decline in root-crop availability (β = −4.53 kcal/capita/day per year, p < 0.001). Pearson correlation analysis identified a significant inverse association between root-crop availability and non-alcoholic beverage import value ( r = − 0.58, p = 0.037). Adult obesity prevalence was 46% in 2016. The findings are consistent with ongoing nutrition transition in Samoa, characterised by declining availability of traditional root crops, increasing availability of vegetable oils, and rising non-alcoholic beverage import values. Although causal relationships with dietary behaviour or non-communicable disease outcomes cannot be inferred, the findings support continued monitoring of food availability, trade patterns, and population health indicators.