Prostate cancer, masculinity and food. Rationales for perceived diet change

Research indicating that certain diets can lower prostate-specific antigen levels suggests that diet change might be a beneficial treatment adjunct for low-grade prostate cancer. However, few men with prostate cancer adopt significant diet change, indicating a need to better understand how and why they make food choices. This qualitative study explored menʹs perceptions of their diets following a prostate cancer diagnosis, and the rationales underpinning diet changes (or lack thereof). Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 men ages 48–78 years who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer within the previous 5 years. Findings show that participants exhibited varied dietary patterns, which we labeled ‘eating as usual’, ‘intensifying efforts’, ‘adding-on’, and ‘overhauling diets’. Four main domains informed rationales for diet changes or lack thereof: perception of pre-prostate cancer diet, diet and health understandings, orientation towards prostate cancer, and the need for “doing something.” Dietary ideals framed as masculine, important, action-oriented and autonomous endeavors contributed to participants’ food choice behaviors, suggesting that their alignment to masculine dietary ideals influenced if and how they engaged in diet change. A better understanding of how masculine food ideals shape food choice might be useful in expanding food choice models and in developing effective nutrition education interventions for this group.