What do people think of intuitive eating? A qualitative exploration with rural Australians

Evidence supports that intuitive eating is associated with many indicators of positive physical and mental health, with more recent longitudinal studies establishing causality. Most research, however, comprises either survey data or clinical trials. This study attempts to fill this evidentiary gap by using a qualitative methodology to explore people’s understandings and reactions to intuitive eating, including perceived barriers and enablers to implementation.Three focus group discussions were conducted in a non-metropolitan region of Victoria, Australia, with a total of 23 participants. Focus group transcripts were thematically analysed using a grounded theory approach within a constructionist perspective.Findings indicate that the concept of intuitive eating was either unknown or misunderstood. Once intuitive eating was explained, most responses to implementing intuitive eating were negative. Participants felt that having complete choice around what they ate was unlikely to equate to a healthy or balanced diet, at least in the short term. They also argued that because everyday life was not intuitive in its structures, it would be difficult to eat intuitively. Despite these difficulties, participants appreciated that if they were able to overcome the various barriers and achieve a state of intuitive eating, they anticipated a range of long-term benefits to health and weight management. For intuitive eating to become a viable public health approach, this research suggests that people would need assistance overcoming their existing habits and food preferences, and developing insight into their bodies’ needs, desires, and cravings. The structural barriers, however, would likely continue to be substantial. Most significantly, however, are the barriers imposed by the food environment. Intuitive eating requires choice of foods, yet ample evidence demonstrates that true choice is often not available and that healthful and less healthful foods are not evenly presented.