Title: Perceived barriers towards healthy eating and their association with fruit and vegetable consumption | Journal of Public Health | Oxford Academic
Headings: Perceived barriers towards healthy eating and their association with fruit and vegetable consumption
Perceived barriers towards healthy eating and their association with fruit and vegetable consumption
Published:
Abstract
Background
Methods
Results
Conclusions
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Issue Section:
Introduction
Methods
Data
Statistical analysis
Results
Descriptive analysis
Regression analysis
Discussion
Main finding of this study
What is already known on this topic
What this study adds
Limitations of this study
Conclusions
Supplementary data
Funding
Acknowledgements
References
Supplementary data

Content: 10 Perceptions of foods can also influence dietary behaviour. Individuals perceive consumption of fruit and vegetables (F&V) and meat to be important components of a healthy diet. 11 – 13 While most people are aware of what constitutes a healthy diet, surveys of dietary intakes show that many do not eat a diet that meets recommendations for health. 14
Kearney and McElhone investigated perceived barriers towards healthy eating (PBHE) by carrying out a survey in 15 EU member states, with ∼1000 adults from each member state. The most frequently reported perceived barriers were related to time, irregular working hours, and taste preferences. 15 A qualitative study, with men of retirement age, reported poor cooking skills and low motivation to change dietary habits as the main perceived barriers to eating a healthy diet. 16 A more recent study, also with the retired age group, found an association between time-related perceived barriers, such as a busy lifestyle, and a more unhealthy diet amongst individuals of retired age. 17 The aim of this study, building on this previous research, is to investigate the relationship between reported PBHE and F&V consumption, in a general adult population. This study focuses on F&V consumption as an important component of a healthy diet, playing a protective role in the prevention of coronary heart disease 18 and a range of other diseases. 19
Methods
Data
This study used Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) data, a nationally representative survey of Scottish households selected by home postcode using a multi-stage stratified design ( n = 36 922).