Readiness to shop for low-fat foods: a population study.
BACKGROUND
Stages of change are related to dietary fat consumption. Few studies have examined stage occupation within the context of purchasing low-fat foods.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the stage-prevalence of individuals for purchasing low-fat foods; identify the frequency of misclassification into action and maintenance (A/M) stages for purchasing for low-fat foods; and explain the demographic and cognitive-variable differences between pseudo (or false positive) A/M and true A/M individuals.


METHODS
Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire among English-speaking adults (n=1,001) who were randomly sampled by mail.


METHODS
Descriptive statistics were used to compare the characteristics of the stage groups. Groups were compared using chi(2) tests and Student t test.


RESULTS
Of those who reported being in A/M stages, 32% were misclassified by the staging algorithm and were not true A/M low-fat food purchasers.


CONCLUSIONS
Individuals who are in A/M stages for buying low-fat foods still purchase high-fat foods. Stage misclassification may be a persistent problem in studies of dietary change using the Transtheoretical Model.
Plotnikoff
Ronald C
RC
School of Education, University of Newcastle, HPE Building, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia. Ron.Plotnikoff@newcastle.edu.au
Hotz
Stephen B
SB
Johnson
Steven T
ST
Hansen
Janice S
JS
Birkett
Nicholas J
NJ
Leonard
Lynne E
LE
Flaman
Laura M
LM
D000465:Algorithms; D003132:Commerce; D003710:Demography; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009864:Ontario; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004041:Dietary Fats