Nutritional status, self-identification as a traditional food consumer and motives for food choice in six European countries
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the study is to analyse whether self-identifying as a traditional food consumer is associated with obesity or overweight, and to investigate the motives for consuming traditional food among people with normal weight, overweight and obesity.
Design/methodology/approach
Cross-sectional data were collected through a pan-European consumer survey (n=4,828) with samples representative for age, gender and region in Belgium, France, Italy, Norway, Poland and Spain. Data analyses included multivariate logistic regressions and a multi-group structural equation modelling analysis.
Findings
Individuals with overweight or obesity attach more importance to weight control when purchasing food, and tend to self-identify themselves more as consumers of traditional foods. Among individuals with obesity, importance attached to the natural content of food is directly associated with traditional food consumption, and importance attached to sensory appeal in food choice is indirectly associated with self-identification as a traditional food consumer. Among individuals with normal weight, importance attached to healthiness in food choice associates negatively with self-identification as a traditional food consumer.
Originality/value
This study provides a unique approach for testing the motives for consuming traditional food among people with different nutritional status, particularly with normal weight, overweight and obesity. The strength of this paper pertains further to its international scope and large representative data set.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the TRUEFOOD – “Traditional United Europe Food” – an Integrated Project financed by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Programme (Contract no. FOOD-CT-2006-016264). The information in this document reflects only the authors' views and the European Commission is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
Citation
Pieniak, Z., Perez-Cueto, F. and Verbeke, W. (2013), "Nutritional status, self-identification as a traditional food consumer and motives for food choice in six European countries", British Food Journal, Vol. 115 No. 9, pp. 1297-1312. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-08-2011-0198
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited