Profile of European adults interested in internet-based personalised nutrition: the Food4Me study.
Katherine M Livingstone, Carlos Celis-Morales, Santiago Navas-Carretero, Rodrigo San-Cristobal, Clare B O'Donovan, Hannah Forster, Clara Woolhead, Cyril F M Marsaux, Anna L Macready, Rosalind Fallaize, Silvia Kolossa, Lydia Tsirigoti, Christina P Lambrinou, George Moschonis, Magdalena Godlewska, Agnieszka Surwiłło, Christian A Drevon, Yannis Manios, Iwona Traczyk, Eileen R Gibney, Lorraine Brennan, Marianne C Walsh, Julie A Lovegrove, J Alfredo Martinez, Wim H Saris, Hannelore Daniel, Mike Gibney, John C Mathers
Author Information
Katherine M Livingstone: Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Biomedical Research Building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK.
Carlos Celis-Morales: Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Biomedical Research Building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK.
Santiago Navas-Carretero: Center for Nutrition Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Rodrigo San-Cristobal: Center for Nutrition Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Clare B O'Donovan: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
Hannah Forster: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
Clara Woolhead: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
Cyril F M Marsaux: Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Anna L Macready: Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition and Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
Rosalind Fallaize: Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition and Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
Silvia Kolossa: ZIEL Research Center of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Biochemistry Unit, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Lydia Tsirigoti: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Christina P Lambrinou: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
George Moschonis: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Magdalena Godlewska: National Food and Nutrition Institute, (IZZ), Warsaw, Poland.
Agnieszka Surwiłło: National Food and Nutrition Institute, (IZZ), Warsaw, Poland.
Christian A Drevon: Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Yannis Manios: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Iwona Traczyk: National Food and Nutrition Institute, (IZZ), Warsaw, Poland.
Eileen R Gibney: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
Lorraine Brennan: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
Marianne C Walsh: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
Julie A Lovegrove: Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition and Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
J Alfredo Martinez: Center for Nutrition Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Wim H Saris: Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Hannelore Daniel: ZIEL Research Center of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Biochemistry Unit, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Mike Gibney: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
John C Mathers: Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Biomedical Research Building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK. john.mathers@newcastle.ac.uk.
PURPOSE: Personalised interventions may have greater potential for reducing the global burden of non-communicable diseases and for promoting better health and well-being across the lifespan than the conventional "one size fits all" approach. However, the characteristics of individuals interested in personalised nutrition (PN) are unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of European adults interested in taking part in an internet-based PN study. METHODS: Individuals from seven European countries (UK, Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Greece and Poland) were invited to participate in the study via the Food4Me website ( http://www.food4me.org ). Two screening questionnaires were used to collect data on socio-demographic, anthropometric and health-related characteristics as well as dietary intakes. RESULTS: A total of 5662 individuals expressed an interest in the study (mean age 40 ± 12.7; range 15-87 years). Of these, 65 % were female and 97 % were Caucasian. Overall, 13 % were smokers and 47 % reported the presence of a clinically diagnosed disease. Furthermore, 47 % were overweight or obese and 35 % were sedentary during leisure time. Assessment of dietary intakes showed that 54 % of individuals reported consuming at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day, 46 % consumed more than 3 servings of wholegrains and 37 % limited their salt intake to <5.75 g per day. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that individuals volunteering to participate in an internet-based PN study are broadly representative of the European adult population, most of whom had adequate nutrient intakes but could benefit from improved dietary choices and greater physical activity. Future use of internet-based PN approaches is thus relevant to a wide target audience.
