6.5 challenges in nutritional change

Question 1

3 types of factors

Answer 1

personal, sociocultural, environmental

Question 2

personal factors

Answer 2

relate to characteristics of individuals that influence food intake

• willpower and taste preferences
• attitudes and beliefs
• health and wellbeing factors.

Question 3

willpower and taste preferences (personal)

Answer 3

Most people prefer certain foods to others. This may be the result of factors such as taste preferences and past experiences.

Question 4

Attitudes and beliefs (personal)

Answer 4

An individual’s attitudes and beliefs about food can be complicated and include some of the following:

• perceptions that healthy foods are bland or tasteless
• ignoring potential negative effects of unhealthy foods
• philosophical beliefs such as vegetarianism or organic preferences
• restricting certain foods, which leads to under-consumption of certain nutrients.

Question 5

health and wellbeing factors (personal)

Answer 5

The health and wellbeing experienced by individuals can also influence the foods they consume. The most common type of food reported to cause intolerance was cow’s milk, followed by gluten.

Question 6

sociocultural factors

Answer 6

Sociocultural factors relate to aspects of a person’s society and culture that influence food intake.

These include socioeconomic status, employment status, family and peer group, and commercial factors.

Question 7

Socioeconomic status (sociocultural)

Answer 7

Education, income and occupation influence the foods people consume.

Question 8

commercial factors (sociocultural)

Answer 8

• supply chains
• distribution and affordability
• processing
• packaging and labelling
• lobbying
• marketing strategies and use of the media

Question 9

Environmental factors

Answer 9

Environmental factors relate to the elements of the physical environment that influence food intake.

• geographic location
• workplaces
• housing
• transport.