Matprat’s recent nutrition survey reveals a clear skepticism towards the diet culture that is often promoted by both the media and social media.
– Our survey shows that most Norwegians do not go on diets. I think that is a sign of health. A varied and balanced diet is healthy, says Trine Thorkildsen, head of nutrition at Matprat in a press release.
– Our survey shows that most Norwegians do not go on diets. I think that is a sign of health. A varied and balanced diet is healthy, says Trine Thorkildsen, head of nutrition at MatPrat. Photo: matprat.no
The survey, with 1,600 respondents, shows that two out of three Norwegians aged 18-50 eat pretty much everything. This diet is particularly pronounced among men, where 71 percent say they eat almost everything, compared to 59 percent of women.
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Weight loss is not the most important thing
In addition, the survey shows that weight loss is not the most important motivation for following a diet. Two other factors reign supreme on the list.
Six out of ten respond that an increased quality of life is what motivates the most. Almost as many are motivated by getting more profit, while weight loss is in third place.
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More are motivated by coping with everyday life in 2024, when the findings from this year’s survey are compared to last year’s. From 2023 to 2024, the proportion who are motivated to follow a type of diet or diet for the following reasons/justifications/factors has increased:
- Gaining increased muscle mass / becoming stronger
- Everyday coping
Certain motivational factors for following a diet have weakened this year compared to last year, this applies to:
- Weight loss
- Better digestion and intestinal health
- Eating the right food
If we divide the findings into age groups, there is one group that has weight loss as their main motivation for following a diet/type of diet. Those over 40 are most concerned with losing weight, in this age group 61 per cent answer that weight loss is what motivates them most to follow a diet/type of diet.
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Almost half tired of health hysteria
The survey also highlights clear gender differences when it comes to attitudes to diets. 40 per cent of those questioned state that they are tired of health hysteria, the proportion expressing this is greater among men than women.
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Women generally have more negative attitudes towards diets than men. A greater proportion of women than men agree that diets are short-term dietary changes, that diets make it difficult to live a normal life and that diets have a negative effect on their mental health.
A greater proportion of men than women agree that diets are a personal tool for living healthier and that diets help them to optimize themselves.
36 percent agree that the pressure to eat healthy is exhausting. The proportion who believe this is greater among women than among men.
33 percent agree that the pressure around health is more unhealthy than living unhealthy. The proportion who believe this is greater among men than among women.
