TASTE PREFERENCE FOR SWEETNESS IN URBAN AND RURAL POPULATIONS IN IRAQ

The consumption of sweetened foods is influenced by a variety of biolo gical, psychological, sociological, and environmental factors. On an i ndividual level, taste preference for sweetness has been shown to have an influence on food consumption, although this may be affected by so cial and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to assess th e taste preference for sweetness in urban and rural populations in Ira q. The hypothesis was that sweet preference and the consumption of sug ar increase with urbanization. The sample was composed of 4152 individ uals who were divided into urban and rural subgroups based on their pl ace of residence. Sweet preference was assessed by means of a tested S weet Preference Inventory. Results revealed statistically significant differences between urban and rural populations in preference for swee tness and in actual sugar consumption. Individuals from urban location s showed a much higher preference for sweetness than their rural count erparts and consumed more sugar. Within the urban population, those in dividuals who had lived in the city longer and who were from families with lower educational qualifications preferred the highest levels of sugar. The findings support the hypothesis that urbanization influence s sweet preference and sugar consumption.