What people choose to eat is not random. Food choices are influenced by many different factors – not just health or hunger, but also emotions, upbringing, financial situation, environment, and lifestyle.
Often, these factors act simultaneously, and people may not even realize what truly influences their daily decisions. That’s why eating habits are so complex and vary greatly from person to person.
Biological factors
Our body naturally “tells” us when we are hungry and when we are full. This is regulated by the hormonal system, involving hormones such as leptin, ghrelin, insulin, and cortisol. You’ll learn more about how leptin, ghrelin, insulin, and cortisol – hormones that influence hunger and satiety – work in the following modules. If we eat irregularly, are under stress, or frequently reach for highly caloric foods, these signals can become disrupted – making it easy to eat too much or too little. The flavours we like are also important. Some are inherited, while others are learned over time. Most people enjoy sweet, fatty, and salty foods – this is natural, as such foods were once hard to come by but provided lots of energy. However, today, when they’re widely available, it’s easy to overeat, which can harm our health.
Psychological and social factors
Sometimes we eat not because we’re hungry, but because we’re feeling unwell – stressed, lonely, sad, or upset. This is called emotional eating – food is used to improve mood, although the effect is often only temporary.
Social pressure, such as the trend toward an “ideal body,” can lead some people to follow very restrictive diets. Unfortunately, such diets often result in the yo-yo effect – a rapid return to previous weight, or even gaining more. This can disrupt metabolism and lead to an unhealthy relationship with food.
You’ll learn more about emotional eating and the psychological factors influencing nutrition in the following modules.
Habits formed at home and daily routines also play a big role – for example, sweetened coffee in the morning, snacking at the computer, or eating late at night.
Media and advertising have a major influence on what we eat. Food companies heavily promote foods and drinks that are often highly processed and unhealthy but are marketed as “fit” or “essential after exercise.”
Advertisements target different groups – children, teenagers, and adults – and use influencers, apps, and even films or TV shows to present products in an appealing way. As a result, many people believe that a sugary sports drink is necessary after a short walk, or that a “fit” bar is a healthy snack – even though it may contain more calories than a full meal.
On top of that, today’s fast-paced lifestyle – long working hours, sitting at a computer, lack of time, and eating “on the go” – also affects eating choices. Many people:
- Eat irregularly and in a rush.
- Rely on fast food, ready meals, and vending machine snacks.
- Don’t have time for grocery shopping or cooking.
All of this leads to food choices that are often random and driven by convenience, rather than health.
Economical factors
Economic factors also have a significant impact. People with lower socioeconomic status are more likely to choose high-calorie but low-nutrient foods because they are cheaper and more accessible. High prices of vegetables, fish, or organic products can be a barrier for many families. Infrastructure availability is equally important – people living in so-called “food deserts” (areas lacking stores with nutritious food) have far fewer opportunities to make healthy choices.
All these conditions mean that effectively promoting healthy eating cannot be limited to education alone. A multi-level approach is essential, involving both individual actions and systemic changes in health policy, urban planning, education, the labour system, and consumer protection.