Portugal is in the top ten countries which have the healthiest diet, according to a survey issued by Oxfam.
The Netherlands was shown to be the best place for a good diet, followed by France, Switzerland and Denmark.
Portugal was ranked in 10th position out of the 125 countries reviewed, outstripping the UK which was number 13 in the survey.
The researchers considered if people have sufficient to eat, if they can afford to buy food, the nutritional value of food available and the presence in the population of diet-related diseases.
Also in the top 10 were Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Ireland and Italy.
The Netherlands scored well because of its relatively low food prices, low diabetes levels and nutritional diversity.
But not even the top ten countries scored well in all categories. The Netherlands has high levels of obesity, affecting nearly one in five people.
The same struggle with obesity is the case in all top ten countries.
Of the worst countries in the world, Chad, Ethiopia and Angola had the lowest scores. Here, as in the other poor countries, food had little nutritional value, is expensive and often prepared in conditions of poor hygiene.
Others in the lowest section were in sub-Saharan Africa – including Mozambique in 8th position - as well as Yemen where diets comprise mostly nutrient-poor cereals, roots and root vegetables.
The US, in 21st place, had the most affordable food in the world compared to Angola where it is the least affordable.
Food quality is highest in Iceland and lowest in Madagascar.
Saudi Arabia has the highest rate of diabetes, with 18% of the population suffering, while 35% are obese.
Kuwait has the greatest obesity problem with 42% of its population overweight, a problem shared with the US, Mexico, Venezuela and Fiji. The report notes that the highest levels of obesity in the world are in the Pacific Islands but that they were not included in the study.The island of Nauru has the highest obesity rates in the world – 71% of the population is obese.
By contrast, obesity scarcely is a problem in Bangladesh, Nepal and Ethiopia.
Malnutrition was shown to be worst in Burundi, Yemen, India and Madagascar.
Oxfam is lobbying for regulating food speculation to halt price hikes, tackling climate change and increasing small-holder agriculture.
