Discuss the value of health and perceived risk as motivation to eat healthy

Answer 1

Some healthy eating programs use health or freedom from disease as a motivator for improving dietary intake. Some researchers argue that in order for individuals to make positive dietary change, they need to first believe they are at risk of developing any related diseases. For example, those who believe there is a strong relationship between diet and developing cancer are more likely to make positive dietary changes (Cohen, Clark, Lawson, Casucci, &Flocke, 2011), and those with a recent diagnosis of cancer are likely to adopt healthy dietary patterns (Demark-Wahnefried, Aziz, Rowland, & Pinto, 2005). Novel interventions targeting dietary change are also focusing on physical appearance as a motivating factor for increasing fruit and vegetable intake (Whitehead, Ozakinci, Stephen, &Perrett, 2012). For example, the carotenoids found in fruits and vegetables add color to the skin tones of light-skinned individuals, such that those who eat more fruits and vegetables have a deeper yellow skin tone, which is rated as more attractive.?