Abstract
The Roma population is prone to an increased risk for diet-related non-communicable diseases; thus, understanding their perceptions of healthy eating is essential to improve dietary quality and effectively address diet disparities. This study assesses such perceptions among Hungarian Roma and explores their association with sociodemographic variables, weight status, and household dietary diversity. The cross-sectional study included 300 Roma individuals (aged 18 and above) residing in Hungary. The telephone-based survey included questions on perceptions of healthy diet, household dietary diversity, foodways, weight status, and socioeconomic status. Using t-test, one-way ANOVA, linear regression, and chi-square tests, the role of and relationships between variables and perceptions of a healthy diet were examined. Respondents associated healthy eating with a high intake of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and fresh and natural foods; maintaining a balanced and varied diet; and supporting overall health. Based on the perception of healthy diet (PHD) score, participants’ views generally aligned with a healthy diet. Statistically significant differences were found between perceptions of healthy diet, and sex (p = 0.05), and age group (p < 0.001). The results of the regression analysis further show that self-perceived healthy eating was the strongest predictor (ß= -0.64, p = 0.01) of the PHD score, while sociodemographic factors such as age (ß= -0.46, p = 0.008) and sex (ß= 0.21, p = 0.07) had more moderate explanatory power. The findings indicate that perceptions regarding healthy diet are not influenced by all socioeconomic factors, BMI, or economic access to food. The findings underscore the need for targeted health-promotion strategies that consider sociocultural factors to promote healthy eating habits and improve health outcomes.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are not openly available due to reasons of sensitivity and are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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AK, ÁT: designed the research; UPB, ZL, SS: participated in data analyses; AK, ÁT: participated in the interpretation of the data, AK: wrote the original draft; all authors reviewed and edited the paper; and all authors: read and approved the final manuscript.
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Participation was anonymous and voluntary; all survey procedures adhered to the General Data Protection Regulation principles. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the Doctoral School of Economic and Regional Sciences (protocol code 18/2023, November 30, 2023).
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Kiss, A., Unger-Plasek, B., Lakner, Z. et al. Perceptions of a healthy diet among Hungarian Roma align with dietary guidelines and are primarily associated with self-perceived eating habits. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-42171-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-42171-1
