Barriers and benefits of a healthy diet in Spain: comparison with other European member states

Objective: Our purpose was to identify the main barriers and benefits perce ived by the European citizens in regard to following a healthy diet and to assess the differences in expected benefits and difficulties between Spain and the remaining countries of the European Union. Design: A cross-sectional study in which quota-controlled, nationally repre sentative samples of approximately 1000 adults from each country completed a questionnaire. Setting: The survey was carried out between October 1995 and February 1996 in the 15 member states of the European Union. Subjects: Participants (aged 15 y and older) were selected and interviewed in their homes about their attitudes towards healthy diets. They were asked to select two options from a list of 22 potential barriers to achieve a he althy diet and the benefits derived from a healthy diet. The associations o f the perceived bene tits of barriers with the sociodemographic variables w ithin Spain and the rest of the European Union were compared with the Pears on chi-squared test and the chi-squared linear trend test. Two multivariate logistic regression models were also fitted to assess the characteristics independently related to the selection of Resistance to change' among the m ain barriers and to the selection of 'Prevent disease/stay healthy' as the main perceived benefits. Results: The barrier most frequently mentioned in Spain was 'Irregular work hours' (29.7%) in contrast with the rest of the European Union where 'Givi ng up foods that I like' was the barrier most often chosen (26.2%). In the multivariate logistic regression model studying resistance to change, Spani ards were less resistant to change than the rest of the European Union. The benefit more frequently mentioned across Europe was 'Prevent disease/stay healthy'. In the multivariate logistic regression model women, older indivi duals, and people with a higher educational level were more likely to choos e this benefit. Conclusions: It is apparent that there are many barriers to achieve healthy eating, mostly lack of time. For this reason a higher availability of food in line with the nutrition guidelines could be helpful. The population cou ld have a better knowledge of the benefits derived from a healthy diet. Sponsorship: Institute of European Food Studies (IEFS), Dublin; DG-V Europe an Union. Descriptors: diet; attitudes; beliefs; barriers; benefits; health promotion .