Social and cultural acceptability of fat reduced diets among Danish overweight subjects: High-protein versus high-carbohydrate diets

In order to investigate whether high-protein medium-fat diets (HP) with larger relative content of high-status foods such as meat are more socially and culturally acceptable than high-carbohydrate medium-fat diets (HC) a survey was conducted among participants (overweight men and women 18–56 y) in a strictly controlled dietary intervention in Denmark. Questionnaires were distributed at baseline, and at six and 12 months after start of intervention trial. Health and well-being improved during trial independent of diet group. However, in both groups, participants missed foods which were restricted in their own diet (carbohydrate-rich foods and protein-rich foods respectively) whereas difference in satisfaction with amount of fatty foods was not significant.The study suggests that in spite of higher amount of high-status foods, high-protein medium-fat diets are no more acceptable than high-carbohydrate medium-fat diets. Both deviate from cultural norms for meal formats and dietary composition and may therefore be difficult to comply with in a long-term perspective. Health programmes promoting dietary change must address cultural norms about meal structures.