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. 2015 Jul 15;6(4):391-6.
doi: 10.3945/an.115.008441. Print 2015 Jul.

Overcoming consumer inertia to dietary guidance

Densie Webb  1 , Carol Byrd-Bredbenner  2
Affiliations

Overcoming consumer inertia to dietary guidance

Densie Webb et al. Adv Nutr. .

Abstract

Despite 35 y of dietary guidance, there has been no substantial shift in consumer compliance. Consumers report that they seek information on nutrition and healthy eating, but most are not paying attention to dietary recommendations. For guidance to be effective, it must be realistic. Even with increasingly detailed nutrition information and evidence that diet affects health outcomes, convenience and taste remain the strongest determinants of food choices. It is up to health educators to clear up confusion and give consumers control with nutrition messages that are realistic, positive, easy to understand, and actionable without an expectation that consumers will surrender foods they love.

Keywords: consumer; dietary guidelines; health behavior; health information; nutrition policy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author disclosures: D Webb and C Byrd-Bredbenner, no conflicts of interest.

References

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