Knowledge, opinions and behaviours related to food and nutrition in Catalonia, Spain (1992-2003).
OBJECTIVE
The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the modification of knowledge, opinions and attitudes to healthy eating, weight perception and dieting practices and preventive habits over a 10-year trend in the Catalan population from 1992 to 2003.


METHODS
Two cross-sectional surveys were carried out in Catalonia, Spain, during 1992-93 and 2002-03.


METHODS
In all, 2361 individuals in the ENCAT 1992-93 nutritional survey and 2061 individuals in the ENCAT 2002-03 health survey. The subjects' ages ranged from 10 to 75 years old.


RESULTS
Lettuce and carrots, fish and olive oil were chosen as the healthiest foods in the two Catalan Nutritional Surveys. Although some improvement was reported, a high percentage of the population still thought that bread (31%), potatoes (23%) or olive oil (19%) should be moderated to prevent high blood cholesterol, especially among the youngest individuals. The perception of being overweight increased among males and decreased among females. There was an increase in the percentage of the population following a diet (from 13% to 17%). An increase in the consumption of iodine-enriched salt (from 26% to 40%) was observed as well as of diet supplements, especially among females (from 6% to 13%). The prevalence of males with diabetes increased from 3.4% to 4.5% and the number of individuals with diabetes not following any treatment decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
The Catalan population has improved their knowledge of healthy food and health-related attitudes. Nutrition policy should focus on young adults as a key age group for primary prevention of future nutrition-related chronic diseases.
Serra-Majem
Lluís
L
Community Nutrition Research Centre, University of Barcelona Science Park, Baldiri Reixac 4, Torre D 4A1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. lserra@dcc.ulpgc.es
Román-Viñas
Blanca
B
Salvador
Gemma
G
Ribas-Barba
Lourdes
L
Ngo
Joy
J
Castell
Conxa
C
Cabezas
Carmen
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D058870:Food, Organic; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D052756:Nutritional Sciences; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires