Changing Micronutrient Intake Through (Voluntary) Behaviour Change - The Case of Folate

Appetite, Vol. 58, pp. 1014-1022, 2012

Posted: 14 Aug 2012

See all articles by Birger Boutrup Jensen

Birger Boutrup Jensen

Independent

Liisa Lähteenmäki

Aarhus University - Department of Marketing and Statistics

Klaus G. Grunert

Aarhus University - School of Business and Social Sciences

Karry Brown

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Lada Timotijevic

Independent

Julie Barnett

Brunel University London - School of Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics

Richard Shepherd

University of Surrey

Monique M. Raats

University of Surrey

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: 2012

Abstract

The objective of this study was to relate behaviour change mechanisms to nutritionally relevant behaviour and demonstrate how the different mechanisms can affect attempts to change these behaviours. Folate was used as an example to illuminate the possibilities and challenges in inducing behaviour change. The behaviours affecting folate intake were recognized and categorised. Behaviour change mechanisms from 'rational model of man', behavioural economics, health psychology and social psychology were identified and aligned against folate-related behaviours. The folate example demonstrated the complexity of mechanisms influencing possible behavioural changes, even though this only targets the intake of a single micronutrient. When considering possible options to promote folate intake, the feasibility of producing the desired outcome should be related to the mechanisms of required changes in behaviour and the possible alternatives that require no or only minor changes in behaviour. Dissecting the theories provides new approaches to food-related behaviour that will aid the development of batteries of policy options when targeting nutritional problems.

Keywords: behaviour change, micronutrients, food choice, eating behaviour, folate

Suggested Citation

Jensen, Birger Boutrup and Lähteenmäki, Liisa and Grunert, Klaus G. and Brown, Karry and Timotijevic, Lada and Barnett, Julie and Shepherd, Richard and Raats, Monique M., Changing Micronutrient Intake Through (Voluntary) Behaviour Change - The Case of Folate (2012). Appetite, Vol. 58, pp. 1014-1022, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2129103

Liisa Lähteenmäki

Aarhus University - Department of Marketing and Statistics ( email )

Haslegårdsvej 10
DK-8210 Aarhus
Denmark

Klaus G. Grunert

Aarhus University - School of Business and Social Sciences ( email )

Fuglesangs Alle 4
Aarhus V., DK-8210
Denmark
(+45) 89 48 64 39 (Phone)
86 15 39 88 (Fax)

Karry Brown

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Lada Timotijevic

Independent ( email )

Julie Barnett

Brunel University London - School of Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics ( email )

United Kingdom

Richard Shepherd

University of Surrey ( email )

Guildford
Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH
United Kingdom

Monique M. Raats

University of Surrey ( email )

Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences
Food, Consumer Behaviour & Health Research Centre
Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.surrey.ac.uk/SHS/fcbh.html

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