The association between consideration of future consequences and food intake is mediated by food choice motives in a French adult population

Marc Bénard (1) , Margaux Robert (1) , Caroline Méjean (2, 1) , Benjamin Allès (1) , Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot (1) , Pauline Paolassini Guesnier (1) , France Bellisle (1) , Fabrice Etilé (3, 4) , Gérard Reach (5) , Serge Hercberg (1, 5) , Mathilde Touvier (1) , Sandrine Péneau (1)

1 EREN [CRESS - U1153 / UMR_A 1125] - Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team | Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle
2 UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences)
3 PSE - Paris School of Economics
4 PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques
5 Hôpital Avicenne [AP-HP]

Objectives: Consideration of future consequences (CFC) distinguishes individuals who adopt behaviors based on immediate needs and concerns from individuals who consider the future consequences of their behaviors. We aimed to assess the association between CFC and diet, and testing the mediating role of food choice motives on this relationship. Design: Individuals (age≥18 years) completed the CFC-12 questionnaire in 2014, at least three 24-h dietary records, and a food choice motive questionnaire. A multiple mediator analysis allowed to assess the mediating effect of food choice motives on the cross-sectional association between CFC and diet, adjusted for socio-demographic factors. Setting: Data from the NutriNet-Santé cohort study. Participants: 27,330 participants. Results: CFC was associated with all food choice motives (P < 0.001), with the strongest positive associations for avoidance for environmental reasons, absence of contaminants and health motives, and the strongest negative associations for innovation and convenience). Positive total effects were found between CFC and the consumption of healthy food groups (fruits and vegetables, whole-grain foods, legumes); and negative total effects for alcohol, meat and poultry and processed meat (P < 0.001). CFC was positively associated with diet quality (P < 0.001). Across food groups, major mediators of these relationships were higher health (8.4-32.6%), higher environmental (13.7-22.1 %) and lower innovation (7.3-25.1 %) concerns. Conclusions: CFC was associated with healthier dietary intake, essentially mediated by a greater motivation of future-oriented participants for self-centered and altruistic outcomes, including health and environment. Focusing on the awareness of future benefits in public health interventions might lead to healthier dietary behaviors.

Mots clés: Consideration of future consequences; Food intake; Food choice motives; Adults; France

Domaines: Alimentation et Nutrition

Marc Bénard, Margaux Robert, Caroline Méjean, Benjamin Allès, Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot, et al.. The association between consideration of future consequences and food intake is mediated by food choice motives in a French adult population. Public Health Nutrition, 2024, 27 (1), pp.e82, 1-11. ⟨10.1017/S1368980023002501⟩. ⟨hal-04447169⟩