Abstract
Background: Consumption of a high quantity and wide variety of vegetables is currently recommended for health. Dietary variety can be low, however, particularly for older adults. This study investigated the affective factors associated with the quantity and variety of vegetables consumed by older adults in France, Italy and the UK. Methods: Adults aged 65 years plus completed questionnaires on self-reported vegetable intake (quantity and variety), liking for vegetables, attitudes towards intake, and demographic variables. Results: In 497 older adults (France, n = 187, Italy, n = 152, UK, n = 158), higher quantities of vegetables consumed were associated with a higher age, affluence score and liking for vegetables, and a lower importance in consumption of familiarity (smallest β = 0.11, p = 0.03). Greater variety was associated with a higher liking and importance of health benefits, and a lower importance of familiarity (smallest β = −0.11, p < 0.01). Higher quantity and variety combined (quantity × variety) was associated with a higher age, liking and importance of health benefits, and a lower importance of familiarity (smallest β = 0.14, p = 0.02). Country-specific effects were also found (smallest β = 0.20, p < 0.01). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate a role for liking and a lower concern for eating familiar foods in vegetable consumption, and a particular role for concern for health benefits in the consumption of a greater variety of vegetables.
Highlights
Vegetable consumption is fundamental to good health
This study aimed to investigate the affective factors associated with a high vegetable intake and a wide variety of vegetables consumed by older adults in Europe
Significant differences were found between countries in all demographic characteristics excepting the distribution of genders, and in measures of vegetable intake excepting the variety of vegetables consumed (smallest F(2,496) = 2.03, p = 0.13)
Summary
Vegetable consumption is fundamental to good health. A high vegetable consumption has been associated with reduced risk of a number of non-communicable health conditions of major societalNutrients 2017, 9, 923; doi:10.3390/nu9090923 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrientsNutrients 2017, 9, 923 impact including cardiovascular disease [1,2], stroke [1,3], type 2 diabetes [4,5], some cancers [1,3,6,7,8], and dementia and cognitive decline [9,10]. Results: In 497 older adults (France, n = 187, Italy, n = 152, UK, n = 158), higher quantities of vegetables consumed were associated with a higher age, affluence score and liking for vegetables, and a lower importance in consumption of familiarity (smallest β = 0.11, p = 0.03). Greater variety was associated with a higher liking and importance of health benefits, and a lower importance of familiarity (smallest β = −0.11, p < 0.01). Higher quantity and variety combined (quantity × variety) was associated with a higher age, liking and importance of health benefits, and a lower importance of familiarity (smallest β = 0.14, p = 0.02). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate a role for liking and a lower concern for eating familiar foods in vegetable consumption, and a particular role for concern for health benefits in the consumption of a greater variety of vegetables
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