Nutrition - Who Really Cares?

Directing programs at audiences with specific motivations.Ask an Extension home economist to name one of the most popular programs and many will respond with a food or nutrition topic.Today, there's an increasing emphasis on nutrition and healthful eating habits.Yet a walk down Main Street, U.S.A., quickly reveals that we're an overweight population.Do people really not know what foods they need to eat; or don't they care about nutrition?A 1978 national survey by Louis Harris and Associates found that 67% of the adult population recognized they'd be healthier if they ate better. 1 Most Americans, however, aren't willing to limit their food choices.Some who do may be concerned about weight control or short-term health effects.Others may view a good diet as a preventive measure with longer-term health benefits.In 1980, to determine the attitudes, beliefs, and social pressure influencing the food behavior of women, we conducted a national telephone survey.Women between the ages of 20 and 59, not pregnant or nursing, were interviewed.Women were studied because they tend to have more nutrition deficiencies than men.By understanding what motivates the food preparer, who's generally the woman, we may better understand the food behavior of the American family.And, women remain the traditional audience for Extension home economics programming.