Family resemblance in fat intake, nutrition attitudes and beliefs : a study among three generations of women

In this thesis nutrition attitudes, beliefs, and fat intake in three generations of women are described. The aim of the study was twofold: the development of methods, and to study family resemblance in food habits. Based on literature study and qualitative pilot studies a questionnaire on beliefs and attitudes towards the consumption of 20 foods was developed for which Fishbein and Ajzen's theory of reasoned action was used as a framework. In addition, an attitude scale was developed towards high-fat foods and their low-fat alternatives. The instruments developed were pretested in 419 adult men and women, 49 elderly women, and 45 students in Human Nutrition. The main study took place among 97 young women, their mothers, and their grandmothers.Attitudes towards 20 foods showed that liking attitudes had more impact on intention to consume the foods than good/bad attitudes. For all 20 foods the belief about the tastiness of the food was a more important determinant of intention than the belief about whether the food is good for one's figure or increases the chance of getting heart disease. This suggests that short-term rewards (tastiness) are more important than rewards on the middle time (figure) and long term (heart disease).The scale of attitudes towards high-fat foods and low-fat alternatives can be considered as an important predictor of fat intake. The subscale consisting of liking attitudes had more impact on fat intake than the subscale consisting of good/bad attitudes.The three-generation study showed that there are small, but many significant, correlations in nutrition knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, intentions, and intake of fats between mothers and daughters.