A comparison of dietary behaviour in Central England and a French Mediterranean region

Objective: The investigation involves comparison of dietary behaviour betwe en UK and Mediterranean France by characterizing the pattern of the current French Mediterranean diet compared with the current British diet. Design: The findings of two dietary surveys, one in the UK and one in Franc e, are compared. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used in both countries. Questions on food frequency were used to assess dietary behavio ur, which were regrouped in the French survey to correspond with UK groupin gs. Dietary indices were constructed to describe dietary behaviour in relat ion to cancer recommendations for intake of fat, fibre, meat, fruit and veg etables. Setting: The UK study was conducted in Leicestershire, central England and the French study was carried out in Herault. southern France. Subjects: UK: n = 418 subjects (57.9% female and 42.1% male; mean age = 45. 0 y); France: n = 635 subjects (50.1% female and 40.9% male: mean age = 49. 8 y). Age range of both samples: 20-74 y. Results: There were positive and negative trends in food consumption in eac h country. UK respondents reported eating more beans and pulses (P = 0.000) , less cheese (P = 0.000), red meat (P = 0.001), and processed meats (P = 0 .000) than French respondents. However, on the negative side, they ate less fruit and vegetables (P = 0.000), fish and poultry (P = 0.000), cereals (P = 0.000), and more sweets and chocolates (P = 0.000), and cakes, pastries, biscuits and puddings (P = 0.000). Women had healthier diets in both count ries. Conclusions: Overall the southern French diet was healthier as French respo ndents scored significantly better for indices for fat, dietary fibre, frui t and vegetables (P = 0.000 in all cases). However, the French sample score d poorer for the meat index (P = 0.000). Sponsorship: This study was supported by a grant from l'Association de la R echerche contra le Cancer (ARC) awarded to M Holdsworth.