Hygiena 2013, 58(2):56-61 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a0964

The Connection between Food Preferences and Consumption

Jindřich Fiala^1,2, Lubomír Kukla³

¹ Masarykova univerzita, Lékařská fakulta, Ústav preventivního lékařství, Brno

² Fakultní nemocnice u sv. Anny v Brně, Mezinárodní centrum klinického výzkumu, Brno

³ Masarykova univerzita, Přírodovědecká fakulta, Recetox, Brno

Food preferences belong to significant factors influencing diet. Basic taste preferences are inherited, typically the preferences for sweet and salty tastes or dislike of bitter and sour tastes. Inherited taste preferences together with experience and other influences form the extent of preference of particular foods. Generally it is believed that food preferences belong to strong determinants of food choice, and that people, especially children, eat what they like. The objective of the study was to investigate to what extent and how food preferences are reflected in consumption in a large sample of adolescents. The research involved 1,655 adolescents aged 15 years, and was part of the ELSPAC study in the Brno district. Both food preferences (liking) and consumption frequency were investigated by questionnaire survey for 56 items in 8 food groups and 1 beverage group, and the relationship between preferences and consumption was analysed. The results show that preferences and consumption differ substantially and thus preferences are only partially reflected by consumption. From 10 most preferred items only 2 were among the 10 most consumed. From 10 least preferred items, 5 were classed among the 10 least consumed, thus "negative preferences" coincide with consumption to a greater extent. Consumption was generally healthier than could be assumed according to preferences. Detailed analyse showed several types of association between preferences and consumption, as demonstrated by different shapes of regression curves. Most items, 27 altogether, showed the "J" type of association, but items in the sweets group showed solely "U" type, while items in the meat group largely had a linear association. The main practical consequences of nonlinear associations are that some foods are consumed considerably more (or less) than preferences would allow. The possible explanations, based on various external influences, are discussed. The main conclusion is that preferences are not the most important determinates for consumption, which gives a clear signal that the diet of adolescents is highly influenceable by external factors, optimally in a favourable manner, by targeted preventive activities.

Keywords: child nutrition, adolescent nutrition, food preferences, dietary habits, ELSPAC study

Received: July 2012; Accepted: November 22, 2012; Published: June 1, 2013  Show citation