Perceptions and Dietary Intake of Self-Described Healthy and Unhealthy Eaters with Severe Mental Illness.

Perceptions and Dietary Intake of Self-Described Healthy and Unhealthy Eaters with Severe Mental Illness.
Community Ment Health J. 2014 Dec 23;
Authors: Carson NE, Blake CE, Saunders R
Abstract
The aim of this exploratory study was to examine how community-dwelling adults with severe mental illness describe themselves as eaters and how these eating identities relate to dietary intake. Twenty participants completed one in-depth qualitative interview and three 24-h dietary recalls. Two distinct groups were identified; self-described healthy eaters (n = 10) and self-described unhealthy eaters (n = 10). Healthy eaters emphasized fruits and vegetables, limiting sweets, three meals a day, overcoming cost concerns, and benefits of healthy eating. Unhealthy eaters emphasized junk foods, fried foods, few fruits and vegetables, cost and household barriers to healthy eating, and concerns about consequences of unhealthy eating. Self-described healthy eaters consumed significantly more vegetables and less kilocalories, carbohydrates, fat, and saturated fat than self-described unhealthy eaters. Understanding how eating identities relate to dietary intake provides important insights for development of more effective approaches to promote healthy eating in this high risk population.
PMID: 25535051 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Community Mental Health Journal - December 23, 2014 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Carson NE, Blake CE, Saunders R Tags: Community Ment Health J Source Type: research