[Stereotypical thinking about food in the context of promoting weight gain].

The aim of the study was to define the respondents' skills to assess certain food as the source of energy which can promote weight gain. Questionnaire survey was carried out in autumn 2006 among 149 women ranging in age from 26 to 53. In this study the participants rated the weight-enhancing characteristics of food that possesses positive health reputations along with food that is more disreputable in terms of wholesomeness. The respondents' rates were resulted from the knowledge of food, but also from stereotypical thinking about selected products (e.g. chocolate as high-calorie food, yoghurt as low-calorie food). The amount of eaten food was not taken into account when calorie intake was assessed.