Files
Abstract
Food choice and food consumer behaviour
is multifactoral behaviour, influenced by a large number
of factors. Consumer way of life and health are relevant
factors to understanding consumption preferences. In
the last few decades the number of so-called civilization
diseases has dramatically increased. Research has
proved that the main cause for these diseases is the
change in way of life; including rising stress in a fastpaced
world and a lack of attention to physical activity
and good nutrition. Nutrition and bad dietary habits
have the greatest influence on weight gain and obesity,
which are serious public health problems because the
increased risk of premature death and civilization
diseases like heart diseases, high blood pressure and
diabetes. The state of health in the European countries
was examined, with special focus on Hungary, regarding
public health indicators and nutrition habits. Data was
collected from FAOSTAT and EUROSTAT database.
The life expectancy in Hungary is one of the worst of the
European countries and the rate of obesity exceeds the
average in Europe. From research and observations, one
difference is that people in Hungary eat less of some
foods deemed healthful by nutritional scientists, such as
vegetables, fruits and milk. Improving the state of health
is a notable task in Hungary, and one important part of
the solution is changing bad dietary habits.