J Epidemiol Community Health 2001;55:29-37 ( January )

Research report

Dietary patterns among a national random sample of British adults J A Pryer^a, R Nichols^b, P Elliott^b, B Thakrar^c, E Brunner^d, M Marmot^d

^a Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK, ^b Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, ^c Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, ^d Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London

Correspondence to: Dr Pryer (j.pryer{at}ucl.ac.uk)

Accepted for publication 17 July 2000

STUDY OBJECTIVESTo identify groups within the UK male and female population who report similar patterns of diet.
DESIGNNational representative dietary survey, using seven day weighed dietary records, of men and women aged 16-64 years living in private households in Great Britain in 1986-7. Cluster analysis was used to aggregate participants into diet groups.
SETTINGGreat Britain.
PARTICIPANTS1087 men and 1110 women.
RESULTS93% of men and 86% of women fell into one of four distinct diet groups. Among men the most prevalent diet group was "beer and convenience food" (34% of the male population); second was "traditional British diet" (18%); third was "healthier but sweet diet" (17.5%) and fourth was "healthier diet " (17%). Among women, the most prevalent diet group was " traditional British diet" (32%); second, was "healthy cosmopolitan diet" (25%); third was a "convenience food diet" (21%); and fourth was "healthier but sweet diet" (15%). There were important differences in nutrient profile, sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics between diet groups.
CONCLUSIONSCluster analysis identified four diet groups among men and four among women, which differed not only in terms of reported dietary intakes, but also with respect to nutrient, social and behavioural profiles. The groups identified could provide a useful basis for development, monitoring and targeting of public health nutrition policy in the UK.


Keywords: diet; cluster analysis; sociodemographic variables

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© 2001 by Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
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