File(s) under permanent embargo
Public views of the benefits and barriers to the consumption of a plant-based diet
journal contribution
posted on 2006-01-01, 00:00 authored by Emma Lea, David CrawfordDavid Crawford, Tony WorsleyTony WorsleyObjective: The aim of this study was to examine consumers' perceived benefits and barriers to the consumption of a plant-based diet. Design: Mail survey that included questions on perceived benefits and barriers to the consumption of a plant-based diet. Setting: Victoria, Australia. Subjects: Four hundred and fifteen randomly selected Victorian adults. Results: The main perceived barrier to adoption of a plant-based diet was a lack of information about plant-based diets (42% agreement). Sex, age and education differences were present in over a quarter of the barrier items. For example, non-university-educated respondents and older people were less willing to change their current eating pattern than were university educated and younger respondents. The main benefits associated with plant-based diets were health benefits, particularly decreased saturated fat intake (79% agreement), increased fibre intake (76%), and disease prevention (70%). Age, sex and education differences with regard to benefits were apparent, although sex differences were more important than age or education differences. Conclusions: The majority of respondents perceived there to be health benefits associated with the consumption of a plant-based diet. Compared with the proportion of respondents who agreed that there were particular benefits of eating a plant-based diet, perceived barriers were relatively low. An understanding of the perceived benefits and barriers of consuming a plant-based diet will help formulate strategies that aim to influence beliefs about plant foods, plant food consumption, and, ultimately, public health.
History
Journal
European journal of clinical nutritionVolume
60Issue
7Pagination
828 - 837Publisher
Nature Publishing GroupLocation
London, EnglandPublisher DOI
ISSN
0954-3007eISSN
1476-5640Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2008, Nature Publishing GroupUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC