How Older Citizens in Germany Perceive and Handle Their Food Environment—A Qualitative Exploratory Study

Jana Rueter, Susanne Brandstetter, Janina Curbach, Verena Lindacher, Berit Warrelmann and Julika Loss
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Jana Rueter: Medical Sociology, Department for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Dr.-Gessler-Straße 17, 93051 Regensburg, Germany
Susanne Brandstetter: Medical Sociology, Department for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Dr.-Gessler-Straße 17, 93051 Regensburg, Germany
Janina Curbach: Medical Sociology, Department for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Dr.-Gessler-Straße 17, 93051 Regensburg, Germany
Verena Lindacher: Medical Sociology, Department for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Dr.-Gessler-Straße 17, 93051 Regensburg, Germany
Berit Warrelmann: Medical Sociology, Department for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Dr.-Gessler-Straße 17, 93051 Regensburg, Germany
Julika Loss: Medical Sociology, Department for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Dr.-Gessler-Straße 17, 93051 Regensburg, Germany

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: Apart from individual factors like knowledge or personal motivation, the environment also influences a person’s eating behaviour. Food environments can be described as the collective physical, economic, policy and sociocultural surroundings, opportunities and conditions that influence people’s food choices and nutritional status. In order to explore how older citizens in rural Germany perceive and handle their food environment, we conducted semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 35 older adults (71 ± 7 years), asking about micro-, meso- and macro-level influences on eating habits. Participants reported social factors to be crucial in shaping their diets, such as preferences of family members or social expectations connected to roles (guest, host). On a physical level, structural aspects and resources in their nearby surroundings influenced shopping and eating behaviour (for example access to an own vegetable garden, local shopping facilities and restaurants). Macro-level influences such as the food industry were hardly mentioned. Participants noticed that the environment affects their diets but dealt with undesired influences using strategies of adaptation and behaviour change, rather than challenging the environmental influences. Public health projects should raise the awareness of the multiple environmental influences on eating behaviour and also help people to create healthier food environments.

Keywords: perceived food environment; nutrition; older citizens; community (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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