In view of the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in Europe, the role of certain carbohydrates, like sugar, is often controversially discussed. Here are some facts about the role of carbohydrates, sugars and sugar in our diet.

You may have noticed the term Guideline Daily Amounts or GDAs mentioned on food labels, but what does it mean? Guideline Daily Amounts are a guide to the total amount of energy and nutrients that a typical healthy adult should be eating in a day.

Programmes to prevent childhood overweight and obesity, which focus on modification of dietary behaviour, increasing physical activity or reducing sedentary behaviour, have been underway for a number of years in countries all over the world. Encouraging results have provided useful data for the development of future initiatives. This is the second in a series of articles discussing current research on the prevention of childhood obesity.

As levels of overweight and obesity in European children continue to rise, it is generally agreed that preventive action is needed urgently. However, there is still much debate over when and how to introduce interventions and what precise measures should be used. Here are some of the considerations

Consideration of these many influences helps in the development of nutrition programmes and the implementation of health education messages. Understanding how people make decisions about their health can also help in planning health promotion strategies. This is where the influence of social psychology and its associated theory-based models play a role. These models help to explain human behaviour and can be used to predict the likelihood that behaviour such as dietary change will occur.

One might assume that the many factors influencing food behaviour provide a whole set of means to intervene in, and improve, people's food choices. However, closer examination reveals that barriers to dietary and lifestyle change exist. These barriers, as well as the possible solutions, will be discussed below.

The article highlighted the need to consider the senses when promoting dietary change. This article focuses on the socio-economic factors that influence food choice and draws attention to the difficulties facing low-income groups in achieving a healthy diet.

The vast array of factors influencing food choice was introduced in a previous issue of Food Today. This article examines how our biological characteristics determine our food selection and the role of appetite, palatability and taste in food choice. Future articles will examine the socio-economic determinants of food choice, barriers to dietary change and models of behavioural change.

Concern about food choices that may have adverse effects on health is currently at the forefront of public health. A greater understanding of the determinants that affect food choice is vital given the priority for population dietary change. Eating behaviour is complex and this article introduces the vast array of factors recognised as having an impact on food choice. Future articles will explore in more detail how biological factors affect food choice, will address the barriers to dietary change, and explain models of behavioural change.

Eating food we enjoy can cheer us up and make us feel content and relaxed. Conversely eating favourite foods can sometimes lead to negative feelings such as guilt and remorse. How can we minimise the negative and maximise the positive impact of food on our moods?

Each of us has a personal range of foods we enjoy. It could be the smooth taste of chocolate, the unique taste of a strong cheese or the spiciness of a pasta sauce.

Eating has never and never will be simply about satisfying physical hunger. We eat not only to quell a rumbling stomach, but also to satisfy the appetite and deal with emotions.

To help policy makers understand what motivates people in their choice of food, the Institute of European Food Studies questioned about 14 500 consumers from the EU member states on their attitudes, beliefs and practices relating to food and health. This article, the first in a series examining the results of the IEFS survey, focuses on what people believe are the main determinants of their eating habits and their attitude to 'healthy eating'.