Pulse October 2015 | Page 15

Diet Trends Around the Globe Indicate Going Back to Basics I n Nielsen’s 2015 Global Health and Wellness Report entitled “We Are What We Eat: Healthy Eating Trends Around the World,” the market research firm found that, when it comes to making healthy decisions about eating, consumers are going back to the basics and changing their diets to comprise more foods that are fresh, natural and minimally processed. Some key findings include: ● Nearly half (49 percent) of global respondents believe they are overweight while half (50 percent) are trying to lose weight. ● In the battle of the bulge, diet and exercise dominate. Three quarters of global respondents who are trying to lose weight plan to change their diet while 72 percent plan to exercise. ● Among those who plan to diet, 65 percent intend to cut down on fats while 62 percent are eating less sugary sweets. But fat’s reputation as the top dietary enemy is fading in North America, while the low-carb movement appears to be gaining momentum. Asia-Pacific has the highest adoption, where 34 percent of respondents say they follow a low-carb, high-fat diet to lose weight. ● A total of 57 percent of respondents plan to expand their diets with more natural and fresh foods. ● In terms of cutting down on processed foods, 46 percent of respondents in North America are consuming less of these unhealthy foods, followed by respondents in Asia-Pacific (39 percent) and Latin America (39 percent). Across the globe, the top health attributes that drive purchasing decisions among consumers are all-natural (43 percent), GMO-free (43 percent) and no artificial colors (42 percent). ● October 2015 ■ PULSE 13