Social distinctions in food consumption and health of urban and rural population (Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad region)

The paper discusses the problem of everyday nutrition practices of urban and rural population, distinguishes differences in nutrition of residents of large, small and medium cities, determines the effect of these differences on the health status of these social groups. According to the results of an empirical study, the widespread stereotype that rural residents eat poorly is disproved, so their health status is significantly worse than that of residents of large cities. The situation is much more complex and ambiguous. Residents of the metropolis eat as unbalanced and monotonous as the inhabitants of the village, and also abuse fast food. Both urban and rural residents lack knowledge in the field of healthy nutrition and gastronomic culture. The authors used telephone surveys as research methods (the sample in St. Petersburg is representative through the main socio-demographic indicators, N = 1054). A telephone survey of city residents was conducted in the Leningrad Region (N = 800), and residents of rural settlements (N = 200). In-depth interviews were also conducted (N = 55), together with focus groups and expert interviews.