AUTHOR=Hamam Manal , D’Amico Mario , Spina Daniela , La Via Giovanni , Di Vita Giuseppe 

TITLE=The interplay of food-related lifestyle and eating behavior in Italian women

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1338925

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2024.1338925

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=Women played a crucial role in food shopping and preparation and their food choices have important implications for their health and that of their families. This study aims to provide a perspective on women's eating lifestyle, which has undergone significant changes. A factor analysis were conducted to assess the degree of involvement in food choices and the type of food items consumed among a sample of 399 Italian women. Through cluster analysis, four segments were identified: hedonic food consumers; sustainable-and balanced-diet consumers; food experimenters; and no food fondness consumers. The results reveal a correlation between the degree of food involvement and the type of food consumed. Furthermore, the food lifestyle of the sample is partially dependent on age. Individuals aged 25-28 years show more hedonic food consumption behavior, while the older age group (44-64 years) fall into the sustainable and balanced diet consumer cluster (the largest cluster) and the cluster of those who do not express definable food choices (no food fondness).