Dietary Habits and Their Correlation with Socio-Demographic Variables Among the Ethnic Hungarian Population of...

Background/Objectives: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality globally. To reduce the prevalence of NCDs, the World Health Organization issued guidelines for a healthy lifestyle, which have been adopted in various countries. Our study aimed to evaluate the dietary habits of the ethnic Hungarian population of Romania, allowing us to identify potential differences in nutritional behavior compared to the country's general population. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, questionnaire-based study was conducted to collect information on eating behavior, food purchasing habits, and dietary patterns among ethnic Hungarians, the largest minority group in Romania. The obtained data were interpreted using multivariate data analysis (MVDA), including principal component analysis models (PCA-X) to establish pattern recognition and data clustering, and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) models to examine class differences between the identified clusters. Results: A total of 247 valid questionnaires were evaluated; the most represented groups were females (67.2%), young adults aged 18 to 30 (56.3%), individuals with normal body mass index (54.7%), and those with a higher education level (45.7%). Health-conscious purchasing and eating behaviors were more characteristic of middle-aged and older adults, females, and those with a higher education level. Young adults appear to have a more varied diet, but overconsumption of unhealthy food products and a lack of interest in healthy dietary habits is evident. Conclusions: Appropriate nutritional education is necessary for all age groups; however, programs targeting young adult Hungarians are especially important, as most expressed little interest in healthy eating habits. Further research examining the underlying relationship between dietary habits and cultural factors as well as socio-economic factors could offer new opportunities to promote a healthy lifestyle.