Associations between Cooking Methods and Socio-Demographic, Dietary, and Anthropometric Factors: Results from the Cross-Sectional Swiss National Nutrition Survey

Abstract

Introduction: Appropriate cooking methods can improve food safety, decrease contaminants, and increase nutrient bioavailability. Few studies assessed the sociodemographic characterization of their use in European populations. We aimed to characterize the socio-demographic, lifestyle, and anthropometric predictors of cooking methods in the Swiss population.

Methods: Adults aged 18-75 years (n = 2,050) participating in the cross-sectional national nutrition survey in Switzerland (menuCH) (2014-2015), representing the 7 main regions in the country. We used logistic regressions to assess the probability of the presence or absence of boiled, roasted, microwaved, oven-cooked, gratinated, fried, steamed, and grilled foods by sociodemographic variables.

Results: Among all participants, the most frequently used cooking methods were boiling (46%), stove-cooking (19%), and steaming (8%). Single participants had a higher probability of consuming grilled or fried foods (68%) than their married counterparts and participants with obesity had a higher probability of consuming grilled or fried foods (67% or 135%) compared to those with normal weight. Divorced or separated participants had a 55% lower probability of consuming roasted foods than married participants. Those following a diet had a 57% lower probability of consuming grilled foods compared to those not on a diet.

Conclusion: We found differences in the distribution of cooking methods in the Swiss population by sociodemographic variables. Further studies should examine the link between cooking methods and disease risk.

Introduction: Appropriate cooking methods can improve food safety, decrease contaminants, and increase nutrient bioavailability. Few studies assessed the sociodemographic characterization of their use in European populations. We aimed to characterize the socio-demographic, lifestyle, and anthropometric predictors of cooking methods in the Swiss population.

Methods: Adults aged 18-75 years (n = 2,050) participating in the cross-sectional national nutrition survey in Switzerland (menuCH) (2014-2015), representing the 7 main regions in the country. We used logistic regressions to assess the probability of the presence or absence of boiled, roasted, microwaved, oven-cooked, gratinated, fried, steamed, and grilled foods by sociodemographic variables.

Results: Among all participants, the most frequently used cooking methods were boiling (46%), stove-cooking (19%), and steaming (8%). Single participants had a higher probability of consuming grilled or fried foods (68%) than their married counterparts and participants with obesity had a higher probability of consuming grilled or fried foods (67% or 135%) compared to those with normal weight. Divorced or separated participants had a 55% lower probability of consuming roasted foods than married participants. Those following a diet had a 57% lower probability of consuming grilled foods compared to those not on a diet.

Conclusion: We found differences in the distribution of cooking methods in the Swiss population by sociodemographic variables. Further studies should examine the link between cooking methods and disease risk.

Keywords: 24-h dietary recalls; Cardiac risk; Cooking methods; Cross-sectional study; Socio-economic status.

Fig. 1.

Flowchart of included participants in the study.

Fig. 2.

Distribution of cooking methods in the Swiss population, National Nutrition Survey 2014-2015.