Factors Underlying Food Choice Motives in a Brazilian Sample: The Association with Socioeconomic Factors and Risk Perceptions about Chronic Diseases

Author(s)

Marsola, Camila de Mello ^[1] ; Cunha, Luis Miguel ^[2] ; de Carvalho-Ferreira, Joana Pereira ^[1] ; da Cunha, Diogo Thimoteo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas UNICAMP, Fac Ciencias Aplicadas, Lab Multidisciplinar Alimentos & Saude, R Pedro Zaccaria 1300, BR-13484350 Limeira, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Porto, Fac Sci, DGAOT, GreenUPorto, Campus Agr Vairao, R Agr 747, P-4485646 Vila Do Conde - Portugal

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FOODS; v. 9, n. 8 AUG 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the food choice motives in a sample in Brazil and to identify how socioeconomic characteristics and risk perceptions about chronic diseases and weight gain affect these motives. The Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) is an instrument to analyze the motivations for food choice. The FCQ was completed by 525 adult individuals in Brazil. The participants were asked about their perceived risk of gaining weight, developing diabetes, and hypertension. Confirmatory factor analysis led to the rejection of the original FCQ structure, and, after exploratory factor analysis, 30 items of the FCQ were maintained in eight factors: Nutritional Composition, Preparation Convenience, Purchase Convenience, Mood, Sensory Appeal, Health, Price, and Familiarity. Sensory Appeal and Familiarity were, respectively, the most and the least important factors involved in food choices in this sample. A high education level, high income, age, and female sex positively affected FCQ factors (except for the Price factor). On the basis of FCQ scores, we defined five clusters: Health Driven, Practicality Concerned, Shape Concerned, Food Concerned, and Cooking Enthusiasts. In general, individuals were optimistic regarding the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, and gaining weight, especially those from the Shape Concerned cluster. The differences in food choice motives presented here reinforce the existence of different niches of food consumption. Different types of products can attract specific target groups at the time of choice. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/12625-9 - Consumers' risk and benefit perceptions related to food consumption and the optimistic bias related to chronic diseases development
• Grantee: Camila de Mello Marsola
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 19/10936-0 - Risk perception about food and feeding: multifocal approach with consumers and professionals
• Grantee: Diogo Thimoteo da Cunha
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants