The prevalence of mechanisms of dietary change in a community sample

Evidence relating to dietary change is contradictory, as some studies document a lack of dietary change while other studies report a degree of success in the implementation and maintenance of long-term dietary change. The present cross-sectional survey aimed to establish the prevalence of dietary change in a community sample, with a focus on four mechanisms of dietary change: two mechanisms within an active path (accumulation of evidence and trigger to action) and two mechanisms within a passive path (imposed change and seamless change) across participants’ lifespan (N = 404). The results indicated that minor dietary change occurred frequently in the lives of 99% of participants. Those described as involving the active path illustrated a reliance on different, self-regulatory styles. In contrast, passive path changes reflected participants’ flexible adaptation to the external environment and evolving personal health needs. Both, the changes within active and passive paths, occurred with almost equal frequency across participants’ lifespan. Further, while weight loss in the past year tended to be attributed to conscious effort, weight gains were blamed on the obesogenic environment.