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Large Numbers of People Claim to be Changing
Their Diets in Ways That Would Improve Their
Health
NEW YORK,Nov.
9, 2010-- A new Harris Poll finds
that large numbers of people claim to be
changing the foods and drinks they consume.
Many of these changes are in line with the
guidance provided by experts, such as eating
more fruit, whole grains and vegetables and
consuming less soda, white bread and
processed food.
However the data strongly
suggest that many of these replies reflect
wishful thinking and public knowledge of
what people think theyshouldbe
doing, rather than actual changes in
behavior.
Replies are analyzed by Americans' Body Mass
Index (BMI), showing the differences between
those who are of normal weight and those who
are overweight, obese or morbidly obese.
However most of these differences are not
large.
These are some of the results ofThe
Harris Pollof
2,620 adults surveyed onlinebetween
September 14 and 20, 2010byHarris
Interactive.
Some of the interesting findings in this
poll are:
Majorities of all adultsclaimthat
theyfrequently
or somewhat ofteneat
healthier at home compared to when
dining out (79%), drink water as opposed
to another type of beverage at meals
(74%), choose healthy snacks (72%), eat
a balanced diet (72%), read nutritional
information on packaged food products
before buying it (68%), attempt to eat
smaller portions (64%), and exercise
regularly (57%);
However, a note of caution is necessary;
some of the responses to this and other
questions in the poll may reflect what
peoplethinktheyshould
be doingrather
than what they are actually doing.Even
if this is the case, the good news is
that many people are either doing or
know they should be doing these things
to stay healthy;
While there are some differences in
their replies to this question among
those who are and are not overweight or
obese, the differences are not very
large. Most of those who are obese or
even morbidly obese claim to be doing
the same healthy things that those who
are not overweight say they are doing;
There are many variations in eating
habits. Relatively few people are
regularly (5 or more times per week)
eating a full breakfast (22%), a full or
well-balanced lunch (21%) or a full or
well-balanced dinner (37%) five or more
times a week;
Here again there are not very large
differences in claimed eating habits
between the obese, the overweight and
those of normal weight;
When asked what they have been eating
and drinking more or less of in the last
few months, very large numbers claim to
have made many changes in their diet.
As in some of the other questions, we
believe that that Americans reflect not
just what some theyare
doingbut
what they think theyshould be doing.
If all the people who claim to be
consuming more or less of these foods
and drinks actually were, there would
have been huge changes in sales for the
various items — evidence of which, we
have not seen.
Large numbers of people claim to be
eating more fresh fruit (50%), more
whole grain items (41%), less white
bread (38%), less soda (37%), less
processed food (35%), more raw
vegetables (34%), less processed meat
(34%) and more nuts (30%). Adults who
are obese and those who are morbidly
obese do not have very different results
than that of all adults.
Large majorities of all adults
understand that what they eat is
important. More than 70% believe that
the amount of each of the following in
their diet is very or somewhat
important: fat (78%), whole grain
(78%), protein (77%), calories (74%),
saturated fat (74%), sugar (72%), sodium
(67%), carbohydrates (65%), and
hydrogenated oil (61%).
Confirming the results of arecent
Harris/HealthDay Poll, this new poll
finds that many of those who are overweight
and obese are not fully aware. Only 61% of
the morbidly obese, and 26% of the obese
(but not morbidly obese) feel that they are
"much heavier than they should be." And 20%
of those who are overweight (but not obese)
describe their weight as "about right."
So What?
When reading the results of this poll, it is
necessary to recognize that the country has
an "obesity epidemic" with rapidly rising
numbers of people who are overweight and
obese. There is no good evidence that this
trend has stopped or gone into reverse.
Given this, it is sensible to conclude, as
we have above, that many Americans reflect
public aspirations and public knowledge of
what they should be doing rather than an
accurate report of actual behavior.
However, even if this is true there is some
good news. Many people know and understand
some of the changes in their diet that they
should be making. But, as in other areas of
behavior change,knowledge
alone, while important, is not enough to
change behavior.
TABLE 1A EATING
HABITS AND BEHAVIORS "Now we'd
like to ask a few questions about
your eating habits. Please indicate
how often, if at all, you do each of
the following."
Base: All adults
Frequently/ Somewhat
often (NET)
Frequently
Somewhat often
Never/ Not very often (NET)
Not very often
Never
%
%
%
%
%
%
Eat healthier when at home, compared
to when dining out
79
37
43
21
16
4
Drink water as opposed to another
type of beverage at meals
74
45
29
26
20
6
Choose healthy snacks
72
24
47
28
22
6
Eat a balanced diet
72
24
48
28
22
6
Read nutrition and calorie
information on packaged food
products, before deciding whether or
not to purchase
68
36
32
32
20
12
Actively attempt to eat smaller
portions
64
22
42
36
27
9
Exercise regularly
57
25
32
43
31
12
Limit my carbohydrate intake
43
15
28
57
35
22
Make special requests in
restaurants, such as asking for the
dressing on the side or an entree
grilled or broiled, rather than
fried
42
18
24
58
34
24
Choose to sacrifice taste for lower
calorie or less fattening food
products
38
10
28
62
39
23
Choose restaurants based on the
availability of lighter options
33
9
24
67
37
30
Keep track of my daily calorie or
food intake
31
10
20
69
31
39
Eat late night meals
30
9
21
70
47
23
Note: Percentages
may not add to 100 due to rounding.
TABLE 1B EATING
HABITS AND BEHAVIORS "Now we'd
like to ask a few questions about
your eating habits. Please indicate
how often, if at all, you do each of
the following." Summary of
those saying "frequently" or
"somewhat often"
Base: All adults
Total
BMI Score
Normal weight
Over-weight
Obese
Morbidly obese
%
%
%
%
%
Eat healthier when at home, compared
to when dining out
79
81
83
74
72
Drink water as opposed to another
type of beverage at meals
74
73
76
71
71
Choose healthy snacks
72
72
75
70
63
Eat a balanced diet
72
75
75
70
61
Read nutrition and calorie
information on packaged food
products, before deciding whether or
not to purchase
68
70
67
62
65
Actively attempt to eat smaller
portions
64
55
72
60
62
Exercise regularly
57
64
66
49
34
Limit my carbohydrate intake
43
35
50
40
46
Make special requests in
restaurants, such as asking for the
dressing on the side or an entree
grilled or broiled, rather than
fried
42
44
44
38
38
Choose to sacrifice taste for lower
calorie or less fattening food
products
38
39
42
33
33
Choose restaurants based on the
availability of lighter options
33
33
35
30
28
Keep track of my daily calorie or
food intake
31
31
34
25
29
Eat late night meals
30
32
32
22
33
TABLE 2A FREQUENCY
OF EATING HABITS "How often
would you say you eat the
following?"
Base: All adults
5 or more times per week
3-4 times per week
1-2 times per week
Never
%
%
%
%
A full breakfast
22
17
38
22
A limited breakfast, such as only a
cup of coffee
17
15
23
46
A mid-morning snack
10
18
38
34
A full or well-balanced lunch
21
30
35
14
A lunch on-the-go with little
thought to nutritional content
6
11
41
42
An afternoon snack
13
28
41
18
A full or well-balanced dinner
37
37
21
5
Dessert or an after-dinner treat
13
23
48
16
Many small meals throughout the day,
rather than 3 standard meals per day
12
18
31
39
Note: Percentages may not add to 100
due to rounding.
TABLE 2B FREQUENCY
OF EATING HABITS "How often
would you say you eat the
following?" Summary of
those who say "5 or more times per
week"
Base: All adults
Total
BMI Score
Normal weight
Over-weight
Obese
Morbidly obese
%
%
%
%
%
A full breakfast
22
22
29
13
17
A limited breakfast, such as only a
cup of coffee
17
16
21
15
11
A mid-morning snack
10
10
13
6
9
A full or well-balanced lunch
21
18
27
17
20
A lunch on-the-go with little
thought to nutritional content
6
4
10
2
10
An afternoon snack
13
14
15
9
12
A full or well-balanced dinner
37
39
41
35
29
Dessert or an after-dinner treat
13
13
16
11
10
Many small meals throughout the day,
rather than 3 standard meals per day
12
11
15
7
13
TABLE 3A CHANGE IN
EATING HABITS "In the
last few months, would you say that
you have been eating or drinking
more or less of the following
items?"
Base: All adults
Less
Neither more nor less
More
Not applicable
%
%
%
%
Yogurt
15
38
29
18
Snack bars
25
43
14
18
Fresh fruit
7
41
50
2
Raw vegetables
9
52
34
5
Fruit juice
16
50
25
9
Cheese
13
64
20
3
White bread
38
39
9
15
Soda
37
37
12
14
Diet beverages
19
34
14
33
Processed foods
35
51
8
6
Processed meats
34
49
8
10
Nuts
14
50
30
6
Pasta
17
63
17
2
Whole grain items
7
47
41
5
Soy products
20
33
9
38
Fish
12
48
31
10
Red meat
24
59
11
5
Poultry
5
54
38
3
Organic foods
15
42
17
27
Note: Percentages may not add to 100
due to rounding.
TABLE 3B CHANGE IN
EATING HABITS "In the
last few months, would you say that
you have been eating or drinking
more or less of the following
items?" Summary of
those who are obese
Base: All adults
Less
Neither more nor less
More
Not applicable
%
%
%
%
Yogurt
16
37
24
22
Snack bars
27
43
11
20
Fresh fruit
6
41
49
4
Raw vegetables
8
55
31
6
Fruit juice
15
47
28
10
Cheese
15
71
12
2
White bread
38
44
6
11
Soda
35
43
12
10
Diet beverages
21
37
16
26
Processed foods
35
53
6
6
Processed meats
38
47
6
9
Nuts
16
52
22
10
Pasta
17
67
13
3
Whole grain items
7
47
38
8
Soy products
20
31
5
43
Fish
8
51
30
11
Red meat
27
61
8
4
Poultry
7
54
37
2
Organic foods
14
38
16
31
TABLE 3C CHANGE IN
EATING HABITS "In the
last few months, would you say that
you have been eating or drinking
more or less of the following
items?" Summary of
those who are morbidly obese
Base: All adults
Less
Neither more nor less
More
Not applicable
%
%
%
%
Yogurt
17
39
30
15
Snack bars
33
40
12
15
Fresh fruit
10
39
49
1
Raw vegetables
9
51
36
4
Fruit juice
15
57
20
8
Cheese
10
67
20
2
White bread
43
39
6
13
Soda
35
38
16
11
Diet beverages
21
29
25
25
Processed foods
36
51
8
5
Processed meats
33
51
8
9
Nuts
15
49
34
2
Pasta
25
54
19
2
Whole grain items
6
48
41
5
Soy products
24
42
5
30
Fish
13
51
27
9
Red meat
18
62
17
4
Poultry
3
49
45
2
Organic foods
23
40
12
25
TABLE 4 MANAGING
DIET AND WEIGHT "When
thinking about how you manage your
diet and/or weight, how important
are each of the following to you?"
Base: All adults
Very/ Somewhat important (NET)
Very important
Somewhat important
Not very/ Not at all important (NET)
Not very important
Not at all important
%
%
%
%
%
%
Fat
78
39
39
22
15
7
Whole grain
78
39
39
22
15
7
Protein
77
39
38
23
16
7
Calories
74
33
41
26
19
7
Saturated fat
74
39
35
26
17
10
Sugar
72
37
36
28
20
8
Sodium
67
31
36
33
23
10
Carbohydrates
65
27
38
35
26
9
Hydrogenated oil
61
27
34
39
27
12
Note: Percentages may not add to 100
due to rounding.
TABLE 5 PERSONALATTITUDE
AND BMI SCORE "Thinking
about your current weight, if you
had to choose, would you describe
yourself as…?"
Base: All adults
Total
BMI
Normal weight
Over-weight
Obese
Morbidly obese
%
%
%
%
%
Underweight or too thin
3
7
*
*
*
About right
24
52
20
4
1
A few extra pounds
25
31
35
13
6
Heavier than I should be but
generally healthy and content
32
10
41
55
30
Much heavier than I should be, or
obese
14
*
3
26
61
Decline to answer
2
*
*
2
*
Note: Percentages may not add to 100
due to rounding.
Methodology
ThisHarris
Pollwas
conducted online withinthe
United StatesbetweenSeptember
14 to 20, 2010among 2,620 adults
(aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex,
race/ethnicity, education, region and
household income were weighted where
necessary to bring them into line with their
actual proportions in the population.
Propensity score weighting was also used to
adjust for respondents' propensity to be
online.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not
they use probability sampling, are subject
to multiple sources of error which are most
often not possible to quantify or estimate,
including sampling error, coverage error,
error associated with nonresponse, error
associated with question wording and
response options, and post-survey weighting
and adjustments.
Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the
words "margin of error" as they are
misleading. All that can be calculated are
different possible sampling errors with
different probabilities for pure, unweighted,
random samples with 100% response rates.
These are only theoretical because no
published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected
from among those who have agreed to
participate in Harris Interactive surveys.
The data have been weighted to reflect the
composition of the adult population. Because
the sample is based on those who agreed to
participate in the Harris Interactive panel,
no estimates of theoretical sampling error
can be calculated.
