To what extent do socio-economic status, knowledge, and confidence in cooking skills account for young women's choice of a diet low in fat and high in fruit and vegetables : What other factors may influence food choice in this group?

There is a consensus of agreement as to which healthy eating messages are appropriate to reduce the risks of the 'disease of affluence'. There is also broad agreement amongst sociologists and psychologists as to the influence of knowledge and attitudes on behaviour. Certain sections of the population choose to eat a diet that is low in fat and/or high in fruit and vegetables. However public health initiatives are often not successful at changing food choice in other sections of the population. It is important that we fully understand the factors that influence food choice if we are to be more effective at changing eating patterns to reduce the incidence of disease and ill health. This thesis aims to contribute to knowledge in this important area by examining the extent to which socio-economic factors, knowledge and confidence in cooking skills account for the choice of a low fat and high fruit and vegetable intake.

An analysis of data provided by a Health and Lifestyle Survey was used to give an insight into the relative contribution of socio-economic status, knowledge and confidence in ones cooking skills to low fat and high fruit and vegetable intake. National Food Survey data was also used to explore the effect of low income on food purchasing.

Results show that only a small amount of the variation in choice of a high fruit and vegetable intake can be accounted for by socio-economic factors such as employment, education and tenure. Confidence in cooking skills, body mass index and cigarette smoking explain a further proportion of the variance but all the factors taken together only account for 8.8% of the variation in food choice. These factors combined explain only 2.2% of the variance in low fat intake. This thesis contributes to knowledge by examining considerations in the food choice of a specific section of the population.

University of Southampton

Lawrence, Judy Margaret

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2002

Lawrence, Judy Margaret

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Lawrence, Judy Margaret (2002) To what extent do socio-economic status, knowledge, and confidence in cooking skills account for young women's choice of a diet low in fat and high in fruit and vegetables : What other factors may influence food choice in this group? University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)