Your food-related lifestyle is associated with obesity - 17.01.2011

If you prefer to eat snacks over ordinary meals you are more likely to be obese, shows research from Q-PorkChains.

Researchers from Q-PorkChains have conducted a web-based survey in five European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece and Poland) with a total of 2437 respondents.

In the survey questions on socio-demographic information and the food-related lifestyle were answered along with questions on weight and height. In the process of analyzing the data from the survey, the researchers converted the self-reported weight and height to BMI. Individuals were classified as obese if their BMI was 30 (or above).

First of all the data showed that 22 percent of the respondents were obese. Furthermore the researchers found that people giving more importance to 'self-fulfillment' and 'planning of meals' were more likely to be obese. People preferring snacks over meals also had a tendency to be obese.

The results showed that people who perceived the use of shopping lists as less important were "not obese".

Overall the researchers concluded that people with a strong interest in health, organic products and freshness are less likely to be obese.

Read more about the survey and the results in the article "Food-related lifestyles and their association to obesity in five European countries"