Affiliation:
1. Stavanger University Hospital
2. Innlandet Hospital Trust
Abstract
Abstract
Background:
Dietary patterns and beliefs are influenced by medical advice, social media and marketing. Medical doctors are expected to provide correct, updated and non-biased nutritional advice to their patients, but their own dietary habits and food attitudes may influence nutritional counselling.
Methods:
We have investigated dietary habits and food attitudes among students at the Medical Faculty, University of Bergen, Norway, by using an anonymous survey.
Results:
Of the 880 students, 394 responded to the survey. Although 90% of the students were omnivores, the majority had a negative attitude towards meat, and considered fish to be healthier than meat. Significantly more women than men reported use of a special diet and excluded meat from their diet, even if they were omnivores. The most frequently used supplement was cod liver oil or omega 3 fatty acids.
Conclusion:
The medical students’ diet and food attitudes not only reflect current health recommendations, but also popular beliefs and marketing in Norway. Curriculum planners should make the students capable of recognizing the influence of social media, marketing and medicine-food industry interactions, to ensure relevant nutrition knowledge for future doctors.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
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