Dietary patterns among a national random sample of British adults

Study objectives-To identify groups within the UK male and female populatio n who report similar patterns of diet. Design-National representative dietary survey, using seven day weighed diet ary records, of men and women aged 16-64 years living in private households in Great Britain in 1986-7. Cluster analysis was used to aggregate partici pants into diet groups. Setting-Great Britain. Participants-1087 men and 1110 women. Results-93% of men and 86% of women fell into one of four distinct diet gro ups. Among men the most prevalent diet group was "beer and convenience food " (34% of the male population); second was "traditional British diet" (18%) ; third was "healthier but sweet diet" (17.5%) and fourth was "healthier di et" (17%). Among women, the most prevalent diet group was "traditional Brit ish diet" (32%); second, was "healthy cosmopolitan diet" (25%); third was a "convenience food diet" (21%); and fourth was "healthier but sweet diet" ( 15%). There were important differences in nutrient profile, sociodemographi c and behavioural characteristics between diet groups. Conclusions-Cluster analysis identified four diet groups among men and four among women, which differed not only in terms of reported dietary intakes, but also with respect to nutrient, social and behavioural profiles. The gr oups identified could provide a useful basis for development, monitoring an d targeting of public health nutrition policy in the UK.