Personal, behavioural and socio-environmental correlates of emerging adults' sustainable food consumption in a cross-sectional analysis

Elizabeth Ludwig-Borycz, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, Nicole Larson, Ana Baylin, Andrew D. Jones, Allison M Dostal, Katherine W. Bauer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Describe how dietary intake patterns of US young adults align with the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet (PHD) sustainable diet goals and identify personal, behavioural, and socio-environmental correlates of sustainable intake. Design: Data on past-year dietary intake were captured using a FFQ. The PHD was applied to specific food groups, and a total PHD score was calculated. Linear regression models were used to identify associations between personal, behavioural and socio-environmental factors and PHD scores. Setting: This cross-sectional analysis uses data from the second wave of EAT 2010-2018 (Eating and Activity over Time), a population-based longitudinal study recruited in Minnesota. Participants: Ethnically/racially diverse group of participants (n 1308) with a mean age of 22·1 (sd 2·0) years. Results: The mean PHD score was 4·1 (sd 1·4) on a scale of 0-14, with 14 representing the most sustainable. On average, participants consumed fewer whole grains, fish, legumes, soya, and nuts than ideal for a sustainable diet, and an excess of eggs, added sugar, and meat. The PHD score was higher for participants with higher socio-economic status (SES) and greater educational attainment. Higher home availability of healthy food (β = 0·24, P < 0·001) and less frequent fast-food consumption (β = -0·26, P < 0·001) were the strongest correlates of PHD scores. Conclusions: Results suggest that a high percentage of participants may not be achieving the sustainable diet goals defined by the PHD. Reductions in meat consumption and increases in plant-based foods are necessary to increase the sustainability of US young adults' diets.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1306-1316
Number of pages11
JournalPublic health nutrition
Volume26
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 4 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society.

Keywords

  • Animal-sourced food
  • Dietary intake
  • Nutrition
  • Planetary Health Diet
  • Plant-based food
  • Sustainable food consumption
  • Young adult

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

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