Hygiena 2014, 59(4):179-183 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1306

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Other Eating Habits in the Roma Population

Jana Stávková, Zuzana Derflerová Brázdová

Masarykova univerzita, Lékařská fakulta, Ústav ochrany a podpory zdraví, Brno

This article presents a questionnaire survey of eating habits focused on the fruit and vegetable consumption of 102 adults in the Roma community. The main goal of this survey was to determine the subjects' attitudes to, and knowledge of, fruit and vegetable consumption (including recommended daily intake), as well as their actual behaviour in this respect. Furthermore, a food frequency questionnaire was used to collect data about consumption of other food groups according to the food pyramid. This survey was also focused on other components of lifestyle such as smoking and physical activity. The results show that the eating habits of the Roma population sample did not match official nutritional recommendations. Consumption of fruit, vegetables and other food groups with beneficial effects on health was evaluated as insufficient, while less suitable food was consumed in excessive amounts. The percentage of regular smokers and absence of intensified and targeted physical activity was also unsatisfactory. The results of the survey can provide a topic for a targeted education of the Roma population regarding healthy eating habits and the impact of individual food groups (particularly fruit and vegetables) on health. Other lifestyle risk factors (smoking and physical inactivity) should also be emphasized in education for prevention of diet-related diseases.

Keywords: eating habits, physical activity, smoking, Roma population

Received: May 2014; Accepted: September 12, 2014; Published: December 1, 2014  Show citation