Table 3 Relative frequency of dietary messages assigned according to the metabotypes and personalised approaches

Messages assigned by metabotype and personalised approaches

 Choose fibre-rich carbohydrates

65.6

58.8

65.6

 Eat five servings of fruit and vegetables per day

65.6

96.9

65.6

 Limit the intake of foods such as processed meats, ready-meals, pastries and biscuits, hard margarine, etc

17.5

31.9

68.8

 Choose lean meats and trim fat and skin off before cooking

60.0

19.4

60.0

 Choose low-fat dairy products

60.0

74.4

60.0

 Eat oily fish twice a week

68.8

60.6

65.6

 Reduce the intake of high-fat foods such as takeaways, crisps and chips, creamy sauces, pastries, pies, chocolates, ice-creams, etc

59.4

80.0

46.3

 Low-fat cooking advice: oil amount, low-fat ingredients, cooking methods

59.4

26.3

46.3

 Limit the intake of foods high in added sugar to once or twice a week

49.4

46.3

53.1

 Choose low-salt products

11.9

14.4

11.9

 Limit the salt added during cooking and take the salt cellar off the table

11.9

14.4

11.9

 Do not skip breakfast and avoid eating in the night-time

46.3

46.3

46.3

 Reduce the size of food servings: use smaller plates, avoid second helpings, order smaller sizes and have on-pack serving

46.3

73.8

46.3

 Exercise for 30 min per day to keep body weight and cardiovascular health

48.1

36.9

46.9

 Exercise for 60–90 min per day to help you lose weight

53.1

63.1

53.1

 You have a healthy body weight: Aim to keep it

53.8

53.8

53.8

 Aim for a gradual weight loss of 0.5–1 kg per week

46.3

46.3

46.3

Messages exclusively assigned by the metabotype approach

 Limit alcohol intake to one unit per day^a

33.8

–

33.8

 Limit tea and coffee intake to two to three cups per day*

11.9

–

–

 Reduce intake of refined carbohydrates*

20.6

–

–

Messages exclusively assigned by the personalised approach

 Eat more beans and pulses**

–

96.9

65.6

 Eat more dark green vegetables**

–

73.8

65.6

 Eat three servings of dairy products per day**

–

35.0

13.8

 Have a small daily handful of seeds and nuts**

–

33.1

20.6

 Have fortified cereals for breakfast^b

–

62.5

–

 Reduce your intake of cheese^c

–

7.5

–

 Try to get more calories from carbohydrate-based foods to achieve a balanced diet

–

5.6

–

 Aim to consume three servings of red meat per week (not more than three)^d

–

4.4

–

 Have a glass of citric juice with meals^d

–

4.4

–

 Cut back on the amount of spread you use^e

–

1.9

–

 Eat more orange fruits and vegetables

–

1.9

–

 Eat more eggs^f

–

1.3

–

 Reduce the intake of eggs and avoid fried eggs^c

–

0.6

–

 Try to get more calories from protein-based foods to achieve a balanced diet

–

0.6

–