Alimentación salud y cultura - SANHISO C. International health and ...

CHANGES IN CONSUMPTION IN BRITAIN:
PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS
Christina Benson
Evaluation, Research and Development Unit
School of Medicine and Health,Wolfson Research Institute,
Durham University, Queens Campus,
Stockton-on-Tees, United Kingdom, TS17 6BH
c.m.benson@durham.ac.uk
Abstract: Over half of British adults are now overweight or obese
(NEPHO, 2005), with the situation having now being declared
an epidemic within Britain. The costs of obesity upon the nation’s
health and National Health Service (NHS) are massive with many
diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep
apnoea and infertility (Scrimshaw & Dietz, 1995), being attributable
to this condition which claims approximately 30,000 deaths
per year in England alone (Davey, 2004). This paper explores the
impact of changes in consumption habits on obesity focusing upon
public perception, comprehension and behaviour. Surveys, website
forum threads and a focus group were utilised to explore these issues
with participants of different ages in the North East of England.
The findings show that the British public are aware of changes in
consumption habits with issues such as portion size, food availability,
snacking, and food waste all being central to their accounts.
With obesity levels rising year on year the provision of services and
public health messages which are rooted in public understandings
and constructions of nutrition and obesity are urgently required.
Keywords: Obesity, Consumption, Portion Size, Britain.