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Nutrition and health: different forms of diet and their relationship with various health parameters among Austrian adults

Ernährung und Gesundheit – Unterschiedliche Ernährungsweisen und Zusammenhänge mit verschiedenen Gesundheitsparametern bei ÖsterreicherInnen

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Summary

Population-based studies report a beneficial health effect and a lower mortality rate for diets rich in fruits and vegetables. Therefore, the aim of our study was to analyze differences between various forms of diet and health-related variables. The sample for this study was taken from the Austrian Health Interview Survey 2006/07 (N = 15,474). Multivariate analyses of variance adjusted by sex, age, and socioeconomic status (SES) were conducted to examine health-related behavior, health, and quality of life depending on different forms of diet. Additionally, differences in the SES and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed. Our results show that a vegetarian diet is associated with a better health-related behavior, a lower BMI, and a higher SES. Subjects eating a carnivorous diet less rich in meat self-report poorer health, a higher number of chronic conditions, an enhanced vascular risk, as well as lower quality of life. In conclusion, our results have shown that consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is associated with better health and health-related behavior. Therefore, public health programs are needed for reducing the health risks associated with a carnivorous diet.

Zusammenfassung

An Populationen durchgeführte Studien zeigen, dass sich eine Ernährung, die viel Obst und Gemüse beinhaltet, vorteilhaft auf die Gesundheit und die Mortalität auswirkt. Daher war das Ziel unserer Untersuchung, Unterschiede zwischen verschiedenen Ernährungsweisen in gesundheitsrelevanten Variablen zu analysieren. Dazu wurden die Daten der österreichischen Gesundheitsbefragung (AT-HIS 2006/07; N = 15.474) analysiert. Mittels multivariater Varianzanalysen wurden Unterschiede zwischen verschiedenen Ernährungsgewohnheiten im Gesundheitsverhalten, der Gesundheit und Lebensqualität kontrolliert nach dem Geschlecht, Alter und sozioökonomischen Status (SES) berechnet. Zusätzlich wurden Unterschiede im sozioökonomischen Status (SES) und dem Body Mass Index (BMI) analysiert. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass eine vegetarische Ernährung mit einem besseren Gesundheitsverhalten, einem niedrigeren BMI und höherem SES einhergeht. Personen, die moderat Fleisch essen, haben eine schlechtere subjektive Gesundheit, leiden an mehr chronischen Krankheiten, haben ein höheres vaskuläres Risiko und eine niedrigere Lebensqualität. Zusammenfassend zeigen unsere Ergebnisse, dass der Konsum einer Ernährung mit viel Obst und Gemüse mit einer verbesserten Gesundheit und einem besseren Gesundheitsverhalten einhergeht. Daher sind Gesundheitsförderungsprogramme, die das Gesundheitsrisiko, das mit Fleischkonsum einhergeht, nötig.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest, and no competing financial interests exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University Graz, Universitaetsplatz 6/I, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Nathalie Tatjana Burkert MA,  Wolfgang Freidl,  Franziska Großschädel,  Johanna Muckenhuber,  Willibald J. Stronegger &  Éva Rásky

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  1. Nathalie Tatjana Burkert MA
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  2. Wolfgang Freidl
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  3. Franziska Großschädel
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  4. Johanna Muckenhuber
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  5. Willibald J. Stronegger
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Correspondence to Nathalie Tatjana Burkert MA.

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Burkert, N., Freidl, W., Großschädel, F. et al. Nutrition and health: different forms of diet and their relationship with various health parameters among Austrian adults. Wien Klin Wochenschr 126, 113–118 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-013-0483-3

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