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

AlimentAción, sAlud y culturA: encuentros interdisciplinAres
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tions. When analysed in relation to gender we can see that in fact 29%
of men would base restaurant selection on portion size whilst only
10% of women would. When we look at the same query in relation to
age it was found that 40% of participants aged under 25 used serving
size as a criteria for restaurant selection, whilst only one other participant
(aged 66-75) made the same assertion.
Attitudes toward larger portion sizes were generally negative
however, of interest is the effect which gender had upon attitude towards
portion size. There was a clear divide in the responses of men
and women, as 60% of women viewed increased portion sizes negatively,
whilst only 29% of men held the same belief. When looking at
attitude in relation to age there appears to be a relatively equal distribution
of attitudes, expect amongst 16-20 year olds, where 50% of
participants felt the availaibilty of over-sized portions was a positive
thing. When questioned as to whether participants would purchase
a ‘super-size’ meal if given the option 80% of women said they never
would and 20% said they rarely would. For men however, 29% said
that they always would select a super-size option with only 21% saying
that they never would.
It’s not good at all. For instance, when I take my grandchildren to
the cinema the size of the popcorn is enormous. You get far too much
popcorn whereas, we would get a little packet [indicated with hands a
packet size of 4 inches square] and now it is just wrong in my eyes (Female,
Aged 66-75, Focus Group Participant)
The main reason given by participants as to why they felt that the
availability of larger portion sizes was negative and potentially detrimental
was the temptation which they presented to over-consume.
It encourages people to have a distorted image of what a portion
size is and to accept that larger is normal, thus increasing calorie intake
(Female, aged 46-55, Survey Participant)
Rather than waste it you do tend to eat it up (Female, aged 56-65,
Focus Group Participant)