Greenwell J, Grant M, Young L, Mackay S, Bradbury KE. The prevalence of vegetarians, vegans and other dietary patterns that exclude some animal-source foods in a representative sample of New Zealand adults.
Public Health Nutr 2023;
27:e5. [PMID:
38050700 PMCID:
PMC10830381 DOI:
10.1017/s1368980023002677]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of vegetarians, vegans and other dietary patterns that exclude some animal-source foods in New Zealand adults. We also examined socio-demographic and lifestyle correlates of these dietary patterns.
DESIGN
The New Zealand Health Survey is a representative rolling cross-sectional survey of New Zealanders; data from the 2018/19 and 2019/20 waves were used for this analysis. Participants were asked if they completely excluded red meat, poultry, fish/shellfish, eggs or dairy products from their diet.
SETTING
New Zealand.
PARTICIPANTS
Adults, aged ≥ 15 years (n 23 292).
RESULTS
The prevalence of red-meat excluders (2·89 %), pescatarians (1·40 %), vegetarians (2·04 %) and vegans (0·74 %) was low. After adjustment for socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, women (OR = 1·54, 95 % CI: 1·22, 1·95), Asian people (OR = 2·56, 95 % CI: 1·96, 4·45), people with tertiary education (OR = 1·71, 95 % CI: 1·18, 2·48) and physically active people (OR = 1·36, 95 % CI: 1·04, 1·76) were more likely to be vegetarian/vegan. Those aged ≥ 75 years (OR = 0·28, 95 % CI: 0·14, 0·53) and current smokers (OR = 0·42, 95 % CI: 0·23, 0·76) were less likely to be vegetarian/vegan. Similar associations were seen between socio-demographic and lifestyle factors and the odds of being a red-meat excluder/pescatarian.
CONCLUSIONS
Approximately 93 % of New Zealand adults eat red meat and a very small number exclude all animal products from their diets. The Eating and Activity Guidelines for New Zealand adults recommend a plant-based diet with moderate amounts of animal-source foods. A comprehensive national nutrition survey would provide detailed information on the amount of red meat and other animal-source foods that the New Zealand population currently consumes.
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