Regional differences in British attitudes to diet in pregnancy: Priorities and pragmatism

Interviews were carried out with 242 pregnant women in England and Scotland. Attitudes to food, health, and self, in pregnancy were recorded and analysed. The English women articulated a wider range of concepts regarding foetal growth and maternal diet, displayed more concern about weight gain and appearance and reported more physiological disturbances. The Scottish women displayed more pragmatic and less health‐seeking attitudes. The women's categorisation of foods as “good” and “bad” were broadly in agreement with current health education advice; but equally were in agreement with the mainstream dietary traditions of their culture.

Key words:

• attitudes
• diet
• pregnancy
• UK
• regional differences