title: Readiness to shop for low-fat foods: a population study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: School of Education, University of Newcastle, HPE Building, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia. Ron.Plotnikoff@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Ronald C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Plotnikoff
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hotz
authors.forename: Steven T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Janice S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Birkett
authors.forename: Lynne E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Flaman
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats