Healthy lifestyle and eating perceptions: correlations with weight and low-fat and low-sugar food consumption in adolescence

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Low-fat and low-sugar foods, marketed as health promoters, offer an interesting avenue for consumers to pursue a healthier life. Despite the relevance of educating adolescents about the importance of a healthier lifestyle, even today little attention is paid to this issue. The aim of this paper is to analyse adolescent consumers with varying degrees of a healthy lifestyle and different healthy eating perceptions and the relationship with their body mass index (BMI) and their low-fat and low-sugar food consumption. Methods: With a sample of 590 (353 from public schools and 237 from private schools) young consumers (13–17 years old) and SSS statistical tools, some interesting results are obtained. Results: Data obtained confirm the relationships among healthy life style activities and BMI and low food consumption. Also, data show interesting relationships among healthy eating perceptions and BMI and low food intake. Conclusions: The empirical results and findings from this study would be valuable for marketers and administration in the food industry to formulate marketing communication strategies and to promote a healthier lifestyle and eating perceptions among adolescents.