Healthy motivations for food consumption in 16 countries
Abstract There are many factors that can influence people’s attitudes towards healthy eating, including personal nature, sociodemographic influences, and lifestyle. This work investigated to what extent the motivations for healthy food consumption are shaped in individuals from different countries. A questionnaire survey was carried out on a sample of 11,919 participants from 16 countries. The results indicated that the strongest motivations for healthy food consumption were related to the perception of consuming healthy food, eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals, allied to food safety and hygiene concerns. Significant differences were found in healthy motivations between countries. Additionally, the sociodemographic variables that had a higher influence on health motivation levels were country, age, and gender. Concerning the anthropometric and lifestyle variables influencing healthy motivation for food consumption, the discriminating variables were: believing in having a healthy diet, physical exercise, and chronic diseases. In conclusion, the work showed important differences in the motivations for a healthy diet in different countries, but other variables also play a role in the motivation for the consumption of foods for health and well-being.
Authors
- Monica Tarcea (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7299-118X)
- Raquel P. F. Guiné (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0595-6805)
- Marijana Matek Sarić (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2734-7955)
- Μαρία Παπαγεωργίου (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7009-846X)
- Ayman El-Meghawry El-Kenawy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0818-2393)
- Małgorzata Korzeniowska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0300-0407)
- Maša Černelič-Bizjak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0537-0196)
- Sofia G. Florença (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2541-4448)
- Dace Kļava (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9490-7396)
- Elena Vittadini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9181-0815)
- Joana Gonçalves (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8702-415X)
- Kathy K. Isoldi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3465-4152)
- Ilija V. Djekic (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8132-8299)
- Ana Paula Cardoso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5062-4098)
- Ivana Rumbak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6419-0427)
- Elena Bartkienė (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3706-1280)
- Ofélia Anjos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0267-3252)
- Vanessa Alves Ferreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0417-8490)
- Manuela Ferreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8452-2222)
- Marcela Leal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7052-1077)
Institutions
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BR)
- Università di Camerino (IT)
- Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LV)
- University of Primorska (SI)
- Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LT)
- Long Island University (US)
- Universidade Politécnica de Castelo Branco (PT)
- University of Zagreb (HR)
- International Hellenic University (GR)
- Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (PL)
- Universitatea de Medicină, Farmacie, Științe și Tehnologie „George Emil Palade” din Târgu Mureș (RO)
- University of Sadat City (EG)
- University of Belgrade (RS)
- Universidad Maimónides (AR)
- Research Center for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (PT)
- University of Zadar (HR)
- Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (PT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Open Agriculture
- Published
- 2025-01-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2025-0444
- Primary Topic
- Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia