Half of Spaniards say that the general rise in food prices has changed the way they eat. At least this is what emerges from the 6th Health and Life Study, prepared by the insurance company Aegon, which reveals that some fresh foods have been falling from the consumption basket of many citizens, especially those who have lost work, are in an ERTE (temporary employment regulation file) or their economic situation has worsened.
In addition, 45% of the 1,600 people surveyed by Aegon say that, after months of widespread and sustained increases in food prices, they have stopped consuming some products for this reason. The ones that most frequently stop entering the consumption basket or enter it less frequently are fish (mentioned by 52.5% of those who have given up some food due to price), followed by meat (35%) and fruit (18%), as well as cereals (17%) and dairy products (12%).
The study finds that, beyond those with financial problems, women and those younger than 40 are the groups that have readjusted what they eat the most because of the price that some foods have reached. According to INE data, for 17 consecutive months the price of the consumer basket has increased by over 10%, and the price of some products such as oil, sugar, potatoes, dairy products or pork has soared.
And although this increase is widespread, it does not affect all territories equally. According to the data collected by Aegon, the Canary Islands are the ones that have changed their eating habits the most because of inflation, followed by the people of Extremadura and Navarre. At the other end are the Galicians. Only 37% of the citizens of this autonomy consulted say that prices have affected their diet.
Despite the readjustments in the diet and the changes in the consumption basket, only 6.4% of Spaniards believe that their diet has gotten worse in the last year, although the percentage is higher among women (8.1 %) and young people (11.8%). However, the study detects a certain subjectivity when assessing whether one eats better or worse: those who consider themselves to have a good diet say that they have increased positive habits, while those who believe that they do not eat well also they declare that the quality of their food has worsened this year.
Fruit and vegetables are the foods that are consumed most frequently (55% say they eat fruit almost every day, and 34%, vegetables). In the case of meat, it is men, young people and people without children who eat it the most: several times a week. Fish consumption, on the other hand, grows as people age, and 87% of those over 65 eat it at least once a week. In the case of junk food, it is more consumed among young people and people without children. In the 26- to 40-year-old age group, 3.3% of respondents say they eat it almost every day.
Another relevant figure highlighted by the VI Health and Life Study is the significant increase in the number of people who have followed some type of diet or regimen in the last year: 27.9% of respondents (they were 21.6% in 2022). Dieting is more common among young people (44% of those aged between 18 and 25 have done one in the last year) and in two out of three cases it is done to lose weight or improve their physical appearance.
There is another 62% of the population who put themselves on a regime to improve their diet and health; 11.6%, for economic issues, and another 10.4%, for environmental awareness. Most people who decide to go on a diet do not follow a specific diet, but mostly choose to eliminate a specific food or foods or to reduce the amount they eat. And more than half (57%) do it without any professional monitoring or supervision.
