Nutrition, physical activity and health status in Europe: an overview

The European diet is characterized by a wide variation in every aspect of eating from the timing of meals to the composition of meals. In general, there is a tendency in terms of dietary advice towards lower fat intakes in order to reduce saturated fatty acid intake and to reduce the risk of obesity. Such diets are most successful and yield the most favourable metabolic profile when there is an adequate level of physical activity.

The aim of the present paper was to explore how the composition of dietary fat changes across the EU with low- and high-fat diets and to explore levels of physical activity and attitudes to physical activity across the EU.

The paper draws on data contained in reports and supplements of the Institute of European Food Studies in the EU.

There is a clear trend for southern EU states to have higher MUFA intakes and lower SFA intakes than northern ELJ states. However, for both geographic regions, the fatty acid composition of dietary fat was similar in groups with lower or higher dietary fat intakes. Physical activity was ranked low by consumers (n= 15,000) for its importance in relation to health and the prevention of weight-gain. Some 47% agreed that their present level of physical activity is sufficient. 78% agreed that being 13 kg heavier would not be detrimental to health and 30% agreed that the main benefit of physical activity was to relieve stress.

(i) The present strategy of lowering dietary fat intake does not alter dietary fat composition and (ii) there is a high level of ignorance among consumers of the benefits of physical activity and the adverse effects of excess body-weight.