Americans' Food and Nutrition Attitudes and Behaviors — American Dietetic Association's Nutrition and You: Trends 2000

Americans' Food and Nutrition Attitudes and Behaviors — American Dietetic Association's Nutrition and You: Trends 2000

FOR RELEASE JANUARY 3, 2000

Contact: Tom Ryan, Lori Ferme or Bridget McManamon
800/877-1600, ext. 4894, 4802 or 4769
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AMERICANS' FOOD AND NUTRITION ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS -- AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION'S NUTRITION AND YOU: TRENDS 2000

CHICAGO — The following are significant findings from the American Dietetic Association's new nationwide public opinion survey, Nutrition and You: Trends 2000.

Since 1991, ADA's biennial survey has grouped Americans into three general categories, based on their answers to a number of different questions, tracking the evolution of attitudes toward food and nutrition:

  • "I'm Already Doing It": people who say they have made significant adjustments in their eating behavior to achieve a healthy, nutritious diet.
    Twenty-eight percent fall into this category — up 2 percent since 1997 and more than at any time since the first survey in 1991.
  • "I Know I Should, But…": people who feel they know what healthful eating behavior is, and that they should eat a healthful diet, but for one reason or another have failed to implement that behavior in their diets.
    Forty percent are in this category — a significant jump from 34 percent in 1997 and higher than at any time since 1993's 42 percent.
  • "Don't Bother Me": people who may or may not feel informed about healthful eating, but for whom it is not a concern.
    Just 32 percent fall into this category, the lowest in the survey's history and a large drop from 1997's 40 percent.

The survey results, summarized on the following pages and detailed in the accompanying releases, fall into four broad areas of interest:

  • Attitudes and behaviorstoward nutrients including vitamin and herbal supplements
  • Perceptions of different kinds of foods, including organically grown products
  • Most popular and credible sources of nutrition information
  • Awareness and understandingof the work of nutrition professionals

Nutrient Attitudes and Behaviors

The importance of diet and health to Americans continues to grow.

  • 85 percent say diet and nutrition are important to them personally
  • 59 percent rank diet and nutrition as either "very important" or "somewhat important." That is the largest percentage since ADA began conducting its survey in 1991 and an increase of 10 percent above the first survey.
  • 84 percent say exercise and physical activity are important to them personally — virtually equal to diet and nutrition, and a 15 percent increase over 1997
  • 41 percent feel that they are doing all they can to achieve a healthy diet — a figure that is consistent with previous ADA surveys
  • 47 percent say they are doing more than they did two years ago
  • 43 percent say they are doing the same as two years ago
  • 9 percent say they are doing less than two years ago

Not wanting to give up favorite foods was the most-common reason given by those who say they are doing "the same" or "less" than two years ago. (Respondents could give more than one answer.)

  • "I don't want to give up the foods I like" was given as a "major reason" by 44 percent and a "minor reason" by 31 percent
  • "I am satisfied with the way I currently eat" — major reason: 39 percent, minor reason: 36 percent
  • "It takes too much time to keep track of my diet" — major reason: 38 percent, minor reason: 19 percent
  • "I don't know or understand nutrition guidelines" — major reason: 29 percent, minor reason: 7 percent
  • "I need more practical tips to help me eat right" — major reason: 34 percent, minor reason: 11 percent

Americans are becoming increasingly receptive to non-food sources of nutrition, such as supplements.

  • 49 percent of adults take vitamin or mineral supplements each day
  • 18 percent never take them
  • Men and women are equally likely to use vitamin or mineral supplements: 47 percent of men and 50 percent of women take them each day. 38 percent agreed with the statement: "Taking vitamin supplements is necessary to ensure good health."
    • In 1997, 35 percent agreed; 28 percent agreed in 1995
    • 27 percent agreed in 1993 and 1991
  • Older adults use supplements in greater numbers than younger people
    • 65 percent of people over age 55 take vitamin or mineral supplements daily
    • 34 percent of 25-to-34-year-olds and 47 percent of 35-to-54-year-olds take them daily

Although nutrient supplements are growing in popularity, relatively few people use herbal supplements.

  • 61 percent say they never use herbal products like ginseng or ginkgo biloba
  • 12 percent use herbal supplements daily
  • 28 percent agree that herbal dietary supplements "are safe because they are natural"

Perceptions of Foods

Despite intense interest among nutrition researchers, dietetics professionals and food manufacturers, functional foods do not enjoy the same level of awareness among the general public.

  • 79 percent have not heard of functional foods, 21 percent of people have heard of them
  • The phrase has little meaning for consumers, judging by the definitions they offer:
    • 68 percent say they are foods that are "healthy" or "good for you"
    • 17 percent define functional foods as providing energy or helping in athletic performance

Over the past eight years, increasingly more people agree with ADA's philosophy that all foods can fit into a healthful eating plan such as outlined in the Food Guide Pyramid.

  • 77 percent agree with the statement: "Nutritionally speaking, I believe there are such things as ‘good foods' and ‘bad foods.' "
    • That percentage has dropped since ADA's 1991 survey, when 85 percent agreed
    • In 1997, 81 percent agreed

Americans are divided on which foods are healthier.

  • 90 percent believe whole-grain breads and cereals are healthier than "regular" products
    • 55 percent say they are "much healthier"
  • 74 percent say low-fat dairy products are healthier
  • 52 percent say organically grown fruits and vegetables are healthier
  • 52 percent say naturally produced beef and pork are healthier

Nutrition Information

Americans' primary sources for nutrition information are television and magazines.

  • Television: 48 percent — down from 57 percent two years ago
  • Magazines: 47 percent
  • Family and friends: 11 percent — up significantly from 1997 (2 percent)
  • Other top sources:
    • Newspapers: 18 percent
    • Reference/general books: 12 percent
    • Doctors: 11 percent
    • Internet: 6 percent
    • Radio: 5 percent

Registered dietitians, nutritionists and doctors are people's most-valued sources of nutrition information.

  • Doctors: 92 percent
  • Registered dietitians: 90 percent
  • Nutritionists: 90 percent
  • Magazines: 87 percent
  • Nurses: 85 percent
  • Newspapers: 82 percent
  • TV news: 79 percent
  • Family and friends: 69 percent
  • Radio news: 65 percent
  • Other non-news TV: 61 percent
  • Internet: 61 percent

The public wants — but is occasionally confused by — information on new research on diet and health.

  • 43 percent say they like to hear about new studies
  • 37 percent believe that the news only tells them what they should not eat
  • 8 percent feel that they must change their diet in response to the latest research reports

Awareness and Understanding of Nutrition Professionals

An overwhelming majority of Americans are familiar with the work of dietetics professionals.

  • 90 percent have heard of registered dietitians
  • 53 percent have heard of the American Dietetic Association
  • A majority know dietitians must meet academic requirements to obtain their credential
    • 32 percent know that an RD "is certified/has a degree or license"
    • 25 percent know that a dietitian "has dietary training/schooling"

People view nutrition messages coming from ADA as credible.

  • 77 percent would consider nutrition messages on food packages sold in grocery stores to be either "much more credible" or "somewhat more credible" if the messages came from ADA

The 70,000-member American Dietetic Association is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Chicago-based ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being.

For the most timely, complete food and nutrition information, visit ADA's Web site.

Editor's note: For more information about ADA's Nutrition and You: Trends 2000 survey, for a copy of the full results, or to interview an ADA spokesperson, contact ADA's Public Relations Team at 800/877-1600, ext. 4802, 4894 or 4769.

Survey results are based on telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 792 adults conducted in October 1999 by Wirthlin Worldwide. The survey has a confidence interval of plus-or-minus 3.5 percent in 95 out of 100 cases.