Among the different theories used to explain social change, the transition theory holds a special place. It has been applied to subjects such as demography, epidemiology, nutrition, etc. and most often from a multidisciplinary perspective. However, beyond the apparent uniqueness of the transition label there are quite different theoretical frameworks and presuppositions, which can be a source of misunderstanding. A first perspective considers change as the transition from one stable state to another and concentrates on the processes at work in the transition phase. It focuses attention on the interactions between cultural and biological variables and tries to take into account the consequences of the fact that they move at different rates. A second perspective conceives change as a series of stages (more or less stable situations) and proceeds to analyse the structural transformation of the organisation at each stage. The emphasis is placed on the transformations that take place during these stages. This brings us closer to the theory of stages. Finally, a third perspective combines stages and transitions. Change is seen as part of an evolutionary and progressive movement and as being reversible or not. This article studies the cognitive organisation of the different theoretical variants of the transition model in which food plays a more or less important role.

在用于解释社会变革的不同理论中，过渡理论占有特殊的位置。它已被应用于诸如人口统计学，流行病学，营养学等学科，并且通常是从多学科的角度进行研究的。但是，除了过渡标签的明显唯一性之外，还有很多不同的理论框架和预设，这可能会引起误解。第一个观点将变化视为从一种稳定状态到另一种稳定状态的过渡，并专注于过渡阶段中工作的过程。它着重于文化和生物变量之间的相互作用，并试图考虑它们以不同速率运动这一事实的后果。第二种观点将变化视为一系列阶段（或多或少稳定的情况），并着手分析组织在每个阶段的结构转型。重点放在这些阶段中发生的转换上。这使我们更接近阶段理论。最后，第三个视角结合了阶段和过渡。变化被视为进化和进步运动的一部分，并且被视为可逆或不可逆的。本文研究了过渡模型的不同理论变体的认知组织，其中食物起着或多或少的重要作用。第三种观点结合了阶段和过渡。变化被视为进化和进步运动的一部分，并且被视为可逆或不可逆的。本文研究了过渡模型的不同理论变体的认知组织，其中食物起着或多或少的重要作用。第三种观点结合了阶段和过渡。变化被视为进化和进步运动的一部分，并且被视为可逆或不可逆的。本文研究了过渡模型的不同理论变体的认知组织，其中食物起着或多或少的重要作用。