Abstract

ELORRIAGA, Natalia et al. What factors influence on the food choices of health science students?. Diaeta [online]. 2012, vol.30, n.141, pp.16-24. ISSN 1852-7337.

Objective: to develop a food choice questionnaire to be used in Argentina. To describe and compare the reasons that influence food choices among students of Nutrition, Dentistry and Pharmacy/ Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires (UBA). Methods: The sample consisted of 198 students of the UBA careers mentioned above, with an average age of 22 years old. A preliminary questionnaire was developed based on existing questionnaires as well as contributions of researchers, and it was self- administered to students. A factor analysis was carried out in order to confirm the structure of the questionnaire. Results: the factor analysis identified 9 factors: “Health and natural content of foods”, “Price and accessibility in stores”, “Weight Control”, “Ecology”, “Comfort in preparation”, “Mood”, “Religion”, “Appearance and extrinsic aspects” and “Sensory Attractiveness”. In choosing their meals, the students gave greater importance to sensory attractiveness (taste and aroma), followed by health and natural content of food, price and accessibility in stores, appearance and extrinsic aspects. Conclusion: a questionnaire was developed to assess what motivates consumers when choosing their meals, which may be used in future research. This questionnaire was used with health science students to learn what motivates their choices.

Keywords : Food choices; Questionnaires; University students.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )