[Selected results of attitudes regarding nutrition behavior in the former East Germany]

In studying the causes of individual nutritional behaviour not only the economic, social, demographic, cultural and other determinants are of importance but also psychological processes of decision and evaluation. For recording the attitudes, value-orientations and action goals a questionnaire was developed (72 items, 13 social and nutrition-related features). It was completed by 867 subjects aged between 18 and 65 years. The statistical analysis shows that the action-determining goals investigated can be classified in 5 empirically developed, factorially validated scales (expenditure, health, enjoyment, matter of minor importance, stimulus). Besides, significant relationships were revealed between the scales and the social characteristics as e.g. sex, age, education, occupation, household size, cooking, mass catering, and self-assessment of body weight.