title: European consumers' perceived seriousness of their eating habits relative to other personal health risks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Poor eating habits are a key priority on the European public health agenda due to their large health and economic implications. Healthy eating interventions may be more effective if consumers perceive their eating habits as a more serious personal health risk. This study investigates European consumers' perceived seriousness of their eating habits, its determinants and relative importance among other potential personal health risks including weight, stress and pollution.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quantitative survey was conducted during Spring 2011 among samples representative for age, gender and region in five European countries (n=3003).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were neutral towards the seriousness of their eating habits for personal health. Eating habits were ranked third after stress and weight. Gender, age, country, health motive, body mass index, and subjective health status were important determinants of the perceived seriousness of their eating habits, whereas perceived financial condition, smoking and education were insignificant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eating habits were perceived more seriously by women, Italians, obese, and younger individuals with stronger health motives and fair subjective health status. Nevertheless, other health risks were often considered more important than eating habits. More or specific efforts are required to increase Europeans' awareness of the seriousness of their eating habits for personal health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: christine.hoefkens@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoefkens
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valli
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzocchi
authors.forename: W Bruce
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Traill
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Verbeke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001835:Body Weight; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Europe; Food habits; Health promotion; Health risks; Perceived seriousness; Target population