US consumers' perceptions of the importance of following the US dietary guidelines

This study examines the factors affecting perceptions by US consumers about the importance of following each type of healthy diet recommendation based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Results generally suggest that in dividuals from the Northeast and non-metropolitan areas, males, less educat ed, not on a special diet, and those who have a lower perception of the ove rall importance of nutrition when food shopping are generally less likely t han their counterparts to perceive individual diet recommendations as impor tant. Income, age, and body mass index also are significant factors for som e individual healthy diet recommendations. Understanding consumers' percept ions about the importance of choosing healthy diets is an important prelimi nary step in changing dietary behavior and nutrition policies. Given worldw ide trends toward Westernized diets and resulting increases in related heal th problems, the findings of this study may have relevance not only in the US but also globally. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.