title: Association of Mediterranean diet and other health behaviours with barriers to healthy eating and perceived health among British adults of retirement age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Health behaviours including diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity, predict health risks at the population level. We explored health behaviours, barriers to healthy eating and self-rated health among individuals of retirement age. Study design 82 men and 124 women participated in an observational, cross-sectional online survey. Main outcome measures A 14-item Mediterranean diet score (MDPS), perceived barriers to healthy eating (PBHE), self-reported smoking, physical activity habits, and current and prior perceived health status (PHS) were assessed. A health behaviours score (HBS) including smoking, physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and MDPS was created to evaluate associations with PHS. Two-step cluster analysis identified natural groups based on PBHE. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate between group comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PBHE number was associated with BMI (r=0.28, P<0.001), age (r=-0.19; P=0.006), and MDPS (r=-0.31; P<0.001). PHBE cluster analysis produced three clusters. Cluster-1 members (busy lifestyle) were significantly younger (57 years), more overweight (28kg/m(2)), scored lower on MDPS (4.7) and reported more PBHE (7). Cluster-3 members (no characteristic PBHE) were leaner (25kg/m(2)), reported the lowest number of PBHE (2), and scored higher on HBS (2.7) and MDPS (6.2). Those in PHS categories, bad/fair, good, and very good, reported mean HBS of 2.0, 2.4 and 3.0, respectively (P<0.001). Compared with the previous year, no significant associations between PHS and HBS were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PBHE clusters were associated with BMI, MDPS and PHS and could be a useful tool to tailor interventions for those of peri-retirement age.
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Biomedical Research Building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, UK. Electronic address: jose.lara@ncl.a.uk.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Biomedical Research Building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, UK.
authors.forename: Leigh-Ann
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: McCrum
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Biomedical Research Building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, UK.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mathers
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D050177:Overweight / Q000145:classification; D012179:Retirement; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking
keywords: Barriers to healthy eating; Health behaviours; Mediterranean diet; Online survey; Perceived health