Sociodemographic and Behavioural Determinants of a Healthy Diet in Switzerland

Abstract

Background/Aims: The determinants of a healthy diet have not been studied in Switzerland. This study aimed at assessing the individual and behavioural factors associated with a healthy diet in a Swiss city. Methods: Cross-sectional, population-based study conducted between 2009 and 2013 (n = 4,439, 2,383 women, mean age 57.5 ± 10.3 years) in Lausanne. Food consumption was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Two Mediterranean diet scores (classic score and specific for Switzerland) and the Harvard School of Public Health alternate healthy eating index were computed. Results: For all three dietary scores considered, living in couple or having a high education were associated with a healthier diet. An unhealthy lifestyle (smoking, sedentary behaviour) or a high body mass index were associated with an unhealthier diet. Participants born in Italy, Portugal and Spain had healthier diets than participants born in France or Switzerland. Women and elderly participants had healthier diets than men and young participants according to 2 scores, while no differences were found for the Swiss-specific Mediterranean score. Conclusions: In Switzerland, healthy eating is associated with high education, a healthy lifestyle, marital status and country of origin. The associations with gender and age depend on the dietary score considered.

Appropriation of the Front-of-Pack Nutrition Label Nutri-Score across the French Population: Evolution of Awareness, Support, and Purchasing Behaviors between 2018 and 2019

“…First, the awareness of the logo and the support of the measure were more important in the younger part of the population. The higher impact on food choices reported by younger participants is particularly interesting to attenuate intergenerational differences as older people are known to be more interested in nutrition [43] and to have better-quality diets [46,47]. Modifying positively the earliest practices is particularly effective in public health as past-behaviors have the tendency to be strong predictor for future behaviors [48].…”

Socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants of dietary patterns in French-speaking Switzerland, 2009–2012

“…Country of birth was categorized into 6 groups: Switzerland, the four most common countries (providing at least 100 participants) including France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, and other. Analysis according to country of birth was considered as important as a previous study showed considerable differences in dietary intake between these groups [ 14 ]. Smoking status was defined as never, former (irrespective of the time since quitting) and current (irrespective of the amount smoked).…”

Dietary Intake according to Gender and Education: A Twenty-Year Trend in a Swiss Adult Population

“…Two models were used: (a) unadjusted or TEI-adjusted for nutrients; and (b) multivariable adjusted for age, smoking status, country of birth (dichotomized into Switzerland yes/no) and marital status, with a further adjustment on TEI for nutrients. Adjusting for age, smoking and marital status was considered as necessary as results from a study conducted in nearby Lausanne showed that these factors are associated with dietary intake [ 23 ]. As there were over 30 different countries of birth, it was decided not to split them, as this would lead to small sample sizes.…”