[Dietary habits and consumption patterns in a health district].

Objective: To describe nutritional habits in a Health District by defining the patterns of food consumption.
Design: A descriptive, crossover study.
Setting: Health District of Molina de Segura, Murcia.
Method: A community survey by interview of 1,071 people (95% confidence; accuracy to 3%), selected from the Municipal Roll by simple randomised sampling, was performed. The statistical methods were: Chi-squared and Student's tests, ANOVA, Pearson's linear correlation, factorial and discriminatory analysis.
Measurements and Main Results: 17.3%, especially men, never took milk products (p < 0.0005). 12.5%, mainly young people, consumed more than 3 eggs a week (p < 0.02). 85% ate fruit daily; 70%, green and root vegetables; and 78%, olive oil. 12.6% had pulses more than 3 days a week. Only 6.5% had potatoes or pasta daily. Among men and young people there was a "bar culture", along with a "fast food" pattern.
Conclusions: The abandoned Mediterranean diet must be promoted. Measures should be taken to moderate young people's and men's alcohol consumption. "Fast food" and "bar culture" patterns are the most deeply rooted. The nutritional education of the chronically ill should also be emphasised.