Perceptions of a healthy diet among Hungarian Roma align with dietary guidelines and are primarily associated with self-perceived eating habits

Abstract

Abstract The Roma population is prone to an increased risk for diet-related non-communicable diseases; thus, understanding their perceptions of healthy eating is essential to improve dietary quality and effectively address diet disparities. This study assesses such perceptions among Hungarian Roma and explores their association with sociodemographic variables, weight status, and household dietary diversity. The cross-sectional study included 300 Roma individuals (aged 18 and above) residing in Hungary. The telephone-based survey included questions on perceptions of healthy diet, household dietary diversity, foodways, weight status, and socioeconomic status. Using t-test, one-way ANOVA, linear regression, and chi-square tests, the role of and relationships between variables and perceptions of a healthy diet were examined. Respondents associated healthy eating with a high intake of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and fresh and natural foods; maintaining a balanced and varied diet; and supporting overall health. Based on the perception of healthy diet (PHD) score, participants’ views generally aligned with a healthy diet. Statistically significant differences were found between perceptions of healthy diet, and sex ( p  = 0.05), and age group ( p  < 0.001). The results of the regression analysis further show that self-perceived healthy eating was the strongest predictor (ß= -0.64, p  = 0.01) of the PHD score, while sociodemographic factors such as age (ß= -0.46, p  = 0.008) and sex (ß= 0.21, p  = 0.07) had more moderate explanatory power. The findings indicate that perceptions regarding healthy diet are not influenced by all socioeconomic factors, BMI, or economic access to food. The findings underscore the need for targeted health-promotion strategies that consider sociocultural factors to promote healthy eating habits and improve health outcomes.