Nutrition and Life-style Scenario of Mothers from Industrial and Non-Industrial Regions of Czech Republic

The present study hypothesized that diet and life style of mothers in those two districts may be also affected by their economic situation. Food provides nutrients and gives energy. Nutrients are essential for human health, but also other compounds continue to be identified in foods, and their health properties are becoming better understood.

The respondents were a deliberate sample of mothers from two regions of the Czech Republic – districts of Ceske Budejovice (CB, N=376) and Karvina (KA, N=449). Selected districts were chosen for their difference in the air pollution, with CB being one of the least polluted and KA one of the most polluted regions/districts in the Czech Republic. Data were collected in maternity hospitals in the years 2019 and 2020.

The majority of respondents (98.5%) described their economic situation at least as average. They also consumed daily at least one hot meal. In Karvina mothers more often eat fish, poultry, legumes and also sweet meals and fried food than in Ceske Budejovice, where are more often consumed dairy products. Information about health risk are important for change of their habits. In both regions, the majority of mothers in our study rated their subjective economic situation as being moderately good. Higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, wholegrain bread, beef, and fish as well as lower consumption of sweet drinks and produced meats were all associated with better economic conditions.

Notably the consumption of fruits and vegetables in the industrial region has risen in comparison with previous data, which is an improvement promising a better starting position for the new generation.