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Table 1 Examination of open-ended responses defining “clean eating”

From: Is #cleaneating a healthy or harmful dietary strategy? Perceptions of clean eating and associations with disordered eating among young adults

Theme

Identification Rate

Strategy to promote well-being

91%

Involves dietary changes

68%

 Involves dietary additions

46%

  Fruits/vegetables/plant-based

30%

  Attention to farming strategies (e.g., organic/natural/non-GMO)

18%

  Attention to geography and/or environment (locally grown/sustainable/environmentally-friendly)

3%

  Healthy/good fats

2%

  Natural/ healthy sugars

1%

  Whole grains/grains

9%

  Proteins and meats (including lean proteins)

16%

  Supplements or cleanses

1%

 Involves dietary restrictions

49%

  Processed/junk/fast food/preservatives

37%

  Fats/grease/oils/deep-fried

16%

  Sugar

16%

  Gluten

1%

  Calories

4%

  Meats

2%

Nature of overall impact

61%

 Positive broader impact

59%

  Feeling of healthiness

1%

  Good for you/well-balanced/nutritious/in moderation

57%

  Attention to geography and/or environment (locally grown/sustainable/ environmentally-friendly)

3%

  Improved weight/body shape/appearance

2%

 Negative broader impact

5%

  Rigid schedule/strict diet

6%

  Ignores physical/bodily cues

1%

Other (e.g., unfamiliar with the term; reference to “clean plate club”)

9%

  1. Note. Many participant responses spanned multiple thematic categories (62%)