Eating Behaviour

Wardle et al (1997)

• Surveyed the diets of 16,000 young adults across 21 countries
• Mediterranean countries = Diets high in fruit and vegetables 
• England and Scotland= Eat far fewer fruits and vegetables
• Sweden, Norway and Denmark= Diets high in fibre
• Portugal and Spain= eat mainly low fibre foods

Leshem (2009)

•  Compared Bedouin Arab women living in desert encampments with those living in urban environments, and also urban Jewish women
• Diet of Bedouins was very similar to that of desert- living Bedouins, they eat much more carbohydrates, proteins and salt that the Jewish women.
• Later found Christians (living in the same area) eat les carbohydrates, protein and salt yet body mass was the same.

• With equal access to foods, different ethic cultures have different diets.

There is a close link between food and our emotional state.

Serotonin Hypothesis: low mood= more pure carbs

Opiate hypothesis: Sweet food= boost mood

Benton (2002)-Even in babies sweet foods are effective in reducing distress.

Gibson (2006) - In times of stress or when we are distressed, there is often an increase in sugar and fat consumption. 

• Studies have shown that familiarity, parental attitudes, peers and media can all influence food preferences in children, and this has a strong link to adult food preferences.
• Adult attitudes to food are also affected by media campaigns. There is a close link between food and mood, supported by research evidence on the effects of sweet foods on brain pathways of reward.
• Eating behaviour varies across cultures. Although availability of food is important, research shows that there are significant cultural influences on diet. 
• Adult attitudes to food are therefore a complicated mix of early and adult experiences, and social and cultural influences.