A comparison of dietary behaviour in Central England and a French Mediterranean region

Objective: The investigation involves comparison of dietary behaviour between UK and Mediterranean France by characterizing the pattern of the current French Mediterranean diet compared with the current British diet. Design: The findings of two dietary surveys, one in the UK and one in France, are compared. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used in both countries. Questions on food frequency were used to assess dietary behaviour, which were regrouped in the French survey to correspond with UK groupings. Dietary indices were constructed to describe dietary behaviour in relation to cancer recommendations for intake of fat, fibre, meat, fruit and vegetables. Setting: The UK study was conducted in Leicestershire, central England and the French study was carried out in Herault. southern France. Subjects: UK: n = 418 subjects (57.9% female and 42.1% male; mean age = 45.0 y); France: n = 635 subjects (50.1% female and 40.9% male: mean age = 49.8 y). Age range of both samples: 20-74 y. Results: There were positive and negative trends in food consumption in each country. UK respondents reported eating more beans and pulses (P = 0.000), less cheese (P = 0.000), red meat (P = 0.001), and processed meats (P = 0.000) than French respondents. However, on the negative side, they ate less fruit and vegetables (P = 0.000), fish and poultry (P = 0.000), cereals (P = 0.000), and more sweets and chocolates (P = 0.000), and cakes, pastries, biscuits and puddings (P = 0.000). Women had healthier diets in both countries. Conclusions: Overall the southern French diet was healthier as French respondents scored significantly better for indices for fat, dietary fibre, fruit and vegetables (P = 0.000 in all cases). However, the French sample scored poorer for the meat index (P = 0.000). Sponsorship: This study was supported by a grant from l'Association de la Recherche contra le Cancer (ARC) awarded to M Holdsworth.