The association and mediation role of Food and Nutrition Literacy (FNLIT) with eating behaviors, academic achievement and overweight in 10-12 years old students: a structural equation modeling

A cross-sectional study of the association between food literacy and dietary intake among Danish adolescents

Food literacy is theorized to be associated with healthy dietary intake. However, empirical knowledge on the association between adolescents' food literacy and dietary intake is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between food literacy and dietary intake among Danish schoolchildren aged 11-13 years. The study applied a cross-sectional design using baseline data from a cluster-based quasi-experimental controlled study in a sample (n = 377) of Danish school children. Mixed model analyses were performed to investigate the associations between overall food literacy as well as its five competencies ("to know", "to do", "to sense", "to care", and "to want") and dietary intake of vegetables, fruit, fish, meat, discretionary foods, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Positive associations were found between overall food literacy (E = 1.493, p = 0.002) as well as the competencies "to know" (E = 1.249, p = 0.027), "to do" (E = 1.236, p = 0.028), "to sense" (E = 1.183, p = 0.029), and "to care" (E = 1.249, p = 0.018) and intake of vegetables. The study also found a positive association between the competency "to want" and intake of fruit (E = 13.50, p = 0.037), "to care" and intake of fish (E = 2.050, p < 0.001), and a negative association between the competency "to want" and intake of meat (E = 0.748, p = 0.003) and sugar-sweetened beverages (E = 0.576, p = 0.0021). No associations were found between overall food literacy or any of its five competencies and intake of discretionary foods. These findings suggest that improving specific aspects of food literacy may have a potential to promote healthier dietary intake, though additional research is needed.

Maternal and household factors affecting the dietary diversity of preschool children in eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Investigate the association between the dietary diversity of preschool children and proximate factors including household food insecurity, maternal food choice, preferences, khat use, and levels of depressive symptoms.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey of randomly selected households.

SETTING

Haramaya Health and Demographic Surveillance site in Eastern Ethiopia, predominantly smallholder farming households.

PARTICIPANTS

678 preschool children (24-59 months) and their mothers.

METHODS

The key outcome, the adequacy of dietary diversity of preschool children, was calculated using a 24-hour parental dietary recall. Binary logistic regression was then used to identify maternal and household factors associated with dietary adequacy versus inadequacy.

RESULTS

The majority (80.53%) of surveyed children had low dietary diversity (mean Dietary Diversity (MDD)) score of 3.06±1.70 on a 7-point scale). Approximately 80% of households exhibited food insecurity. Households with greater food security (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.96, 95% CI 1.19 to 3.23), healthier maternal food choice (AOR=2.19, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.31) and broader maternal food preferences (AOR=4.95, 95% CI 1.11 to 21.95) were all associated with higher dietary diversity of their preschool children (p≤0.05). Other covariates associated with adequate child dietary diversity included improved household drinking water sources (AOR=1.84, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.92) and family planning use (AOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.86). Despite predictions, however, maternal depression and khat consumption were not identified as factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The dietary diversity of preschool children is extremely low-a pattern observed in both food-secure and food-insecure households. Key factors include maternal selection of food for convenience and ease, preferences that do not include animal protein or healthier food choices, and lack of access to improved drinking water sources. Interventions around maternal food choice and preferences could improve preschool children's nutritional health.

Assessing the relationship between nutrition literacy and eating behaviors among nursing students: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Eating behavior is an essential aspect of life that can have long-term effects on health outcomes. Nutrition literacy is crucial for better health and well-being. It empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their nutrition and take control of their eating habits.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the relationship between nutritional literacy and eating behavior among nursing students at the nursing faculties of Ardabil University of medical sciences.

METHODS

A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in Ardabil province, northwest Iran. The study collected data through simple random sampling at nursing schools in Ardabil province, with 224 nursing students participating. The study collected data from a demographic information form, the nutritional literacy self-assessment questionnaire for students (NL-SF12), and the adult eating behavior questionnaire (AEBQ). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 14.0 software.

RESULTS

Based on the results, nutritional literacy explains 44% of the variance in eating behavior and shows significant explanatory power in two sub-scales of eating behavior. The adjusted R2 values for food approach and food avoidance scales were 0.33 and 0.27, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Given the significant relationship between nutritional literacy and eating behaviors among nursing students, nursing faculty managers and health policymakers should develop new public health strategies to increase nutritional literacy among nursing students.

Health literacy and nutrition literacy among mother with preschool children: What factors are effective?

Children's obesity behaviors are associated with parents' low health literacy. Nutrition Literacy (NL) is an essential component to enhancing nutrition quality, as well as health and well-being. The study's objective was to determine health literacy (HL) and NL among mothers with children preschool children (under 7 years old in Zanjan city, Iran). Participants in this cross-sectional were 162 mothers with preschool children referred to Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital's pediatric clinic in Zanjan, Iran, during July and August 2022. The sample technique was convenient. In IBM SPSS 20 software, a two-step cluster analysis, the Chi-square\ Fisher exact, and Man-Whitney tests were used. HL and NL had a mean ± SD of 71.26 ± 15.84 and 71.78 ± 11.86, respectively. The two-step cluster analysis identified two clusters, with mothers in cluster 1 (n = 141) having sufficient HL and NL and mothers in cluster 2 (n = 21) having insufficient HL and NL. Cluster 1 mothers were older, had a college degree, lived in a city, were employed, and had a better financial situation. They obtained health and nutrition information from the Internet, either alone or in conjunction with other sources. Based on clustering analysis, it was observed that the low level of education, living in the village and being a housewife of the mothers, is related to the low level of HL and NL. By increasing the level of education of mothers, it is possible to help protect children from malnutrition or overfeeding in the future. Also, providing suitable job opportunities for mothers can help in this matter.

Turkish version of the 'food and nutrition literacy questionnaire for Chinese school-age children' for school-age adolescents: a validity and reliability study

BACKGROUND

In this study, it was aimed to examine the psychometric characteristics of the scale named 'Food and Nutrition Literacy Questionnaire for Chinese School-age Children (FNLQ-SC)' in Turkish school age adolescents.

METHODS

The research was carried out with 341 school-age adolescents aged 10 to 17 years. The Cronbach's α coefficient was used to evaluate internal consistency reliability and the test-retest method was applied. The construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and the content validity was assessed by the Pearson correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

EFA indicated that the Turkish version of FNLQ-SC had three factorial structures that accounted for 42.0% of the total variance. The overall Turkish version of FNLQ-SC questionnaire had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.679). The dimensional structure obtained in the EFA was controlled by CFA and the three-factor model showed acceptable goodness-of-fit indices (χ2/df = 1.924, RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.864, GFI = 0.949). The Pearson correlation coefficients between each dimension and the overall questionnaire ranged from 0.300 to 0.842. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that age, gender, grade of class, being an only child and discussing nutrition information with families had an effect on food and nutrition literacy (R2 = 0.312; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The Turkish version of FNLQ-SC has good reliability and construct validity to assess the food and nutrition literacy of Turkish school age adolescents.

Exploring the Factors Behind Regional Differences in Physical Fitness of Geological University Students

The intention of this study is to investigate the distribution of physical fitness of the geographical students. The indicators among freshmen at a Chinese geological university and compare their fitness levels with students from other types of institutions. The research revealed that students at higher latitudes exhibited greater physical strength but were less athletic than those at lower latitudes. Spatial dependence on physical fitness was more pronounced in males than in females, particularly for indicators characterizing athletic capacity. Influencing factors such as PM10, air temperature, rainfall, eggs consumption, grain consumption, and GDP which were identified as the major climate, dietary structure, and economic level were examined. Revised：PM10, air temperature and eggs consumption, factors influencing the spatial distribution of male physical fitness across the country. Rainfall, grains consumption and GDP, factors influencing the spatial distribution of female physical fitness across the country. respectively. These factors were found to affect males (42.43%) more than females (25.33%). These findings highlight the significance of regional differences in students' physical fitness levels, with students in geological universities demonstrating better overall physical fitness compared to their counterparts at other schools. Consequently, it is essential to develop tailored physical education strategies for students in various regions, taking into account local economic, climatic, and dietary factors. This study offers a greater explanation of physical fitness disparities between the Chinese university students as well as provides insights for designing effective physical education programs.

Health literacy among adolescents and young adults in the Eastern Mediterranean region: a scoping review

OBJECTIVES

For adolescents and young adults, most health literacy research has been conducted in Western countries, but few studies have been conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR). This review aimed to explore the existing health literacy research in the EMR in addition to the levels of health literacy and its associated factors among adolescents and young adults.

METHODS

The search, conducted using the PubMed/MEDLINE, EBSCOhost/CINAHL plus, Web of Science and J-STAGE databases, was initially performed on 16 June 2022 and later updated on 1 October 2022. Studies that targeted 10-25 years old persons, conducted in any of the EMR countries and that used the health literacy concept and/or described its levels or predictors were included in the review. Content analysis was used for data extraction and analysis. Data related to the study methods, participants, outcome variables and health literacy were extracted.

RESULTS

The review included 82 studies, most of which were conducted in Iran and Turkey and adopted a cross-sectional design. Half of the studies showed that more than half of adolescents and young adults had low or moderate health literacy. Nine studies applied university-based or school-based health education interventions to improve health literacy, which was also predicted by demographic and socioeconomic factors and internet usage. Little attention was paid to assessing the health literacy of vulnerable people, such as refugees and those with a disability and exposed to violence. Finally, various health literacy topics were investigated, including nutrition, non-communicable diseases, media and depression.

CONCLUSION

Health literacy levels were low-to-moderate in adolescents and young adults in the EMR. To promote health literacy, it is recommended to use school-based health education and attempt to reach adolescents and young adults through social media platforms. More attention should be paid to refugees, people with disabilities and those exposed to violence.

Food Knowledge for Better Nutrition and Health: A Study among University Students in Portugal

When students enter university, they suffer adaptations, including, usually, greater autonomy and responsibility for the choices they make. Therefore, it is crucial that they are well informed so as to make healthier food choices. The aim of this study was to determine whether sociodemographic characteristics, academic performance and lifestyle (tobacco and alcohol consumption) interfere with food literacy in university students. A quantitative, analytical, descriptive, transversal and correlational study was carried out, using quantitative data obtained through a questionnaire survey applied to a sample of 924 university students in Portugal. Food literacy was assessed through a scale of 27 items, distributed in three dimensions: D1-Literacy about food nutritional value and composition, D2-Literacy about labelling and food choice and D3-Literacy about healthy eating practices. Results showed no differences in food literacy according to sex or age. However, food literacy varied significantly with nationality, either globally (p = 0.006) or in the different dimensions evaluated (p-values of 0.005, 0.027 and 0.012 for D1, D2 and D3, respectively). In terms of academic achievement, the results showed no significant differences according to self-reported academic performance or even to the average classification obtained in the course. Regarding lifestyle variables, it was observed that alcohol consumption or smoking are not associated with food literacy, that is, food literacy does not vary significantly with these two lifestyle variables. In conclusion, food literacy in general and the dimensions evaluated are essentially constant among university students in Portugal, only varying for students from abroad. These results help to better perceive the food literacy levels for the population under study, university students, and that can be a valuable tool to better increase food literacy at these institutions as a way to better prepare for a healthier life and proper food habits that can enhance health in the long term.

Effectiveness of a School-Based Culinary Programme on 9- and 10-Year-Old Children's Food Literacy and Vegetable, Fruit, and Breakfast Consumption

School-based culinary courses may increase children's food literacy and improve their eating behaviours. This study assessed the impact of a school-based culinary programme on 9- and 10-year-old students' food literacy and vegetable, fruit, and breakfast consumption. This cluster quasi-experimental trial compared 88 grade 4 and 5 students who participated in the Apprenti en Action programme to 82 students who did not. Students' food literacy and eating behaviours were assessed with a self-administered questionnaire. The programme's impact on vegetable and fruit consumption, cooking skills, food skills, and food knowledge was measured using MANOVA, and the odds of eating breakfast at least five times per week were assessed with logistic regression. Students who participated in the programme reported a greater increase in their cooking skills (p = 0.013) and food knowledge (p = 0.028) than students in the control group. No effect was found on food skills and vegetables, fruit, and breakfast consumption (p-values > 0.05). Boys improved their cooking skills (p = 0.025) and food knowledge (p = 0.022), but girls did not. The programme improved students' cooking skills and food knowledge, especially among boys; however, modifications are needed to improve students' food skills and eating behaviours.

The relationship between nutrition literacy and nutrition information seeking attitudes and healthy eating patterns among a group of palestinians

INTRODUCTION

Nutrition literacy is crucial because it gives people information and drives them to take responsibility for their eating habits. Prior research on three categories of nutrition literacy among Palestinians was lacking: functional literacy (FNL), interactive literacy (INL), and critical literacy (CNL).

AIMS

(1) Describe three types of nutrition literacy-FNL, INL, and CNL-among a group of Palestinians was one of the study's primary objectives. (2) To investigate the connections between various nutrition literacy levels, eating habits, and the habit of seeking out nutrition-related information.

METHODS

149 Palestinians were chosen at random to take part in the study in the fall of 2020. Data on sociodemographic variables were gathered through an online survey that was disseminated across social and educational internet sites. Nutrition literacy data was gathered using a translated questionnaire, while diet behavior data was gathered using the Short Format of the Diet Health and Knowledge Survey (SFDHKS). The data were examined using SPSS 21.

RESULTS

This study included young people (20.4 ± 4.9 years old), 78% of whom were female. The majorities of participants had bachelor's degrees or were already enrolled in school to obtain them. FNL had a mean of 2.8 ± 0.5, INL of 3.3 ± 0.5, and CNL of 3.6 ± 0.5. The connection between CNL and INL was significant (p 0.05). Significant correlations were found between many aspects of diet behavior, the usage of food labels, and nutrition literacy.

CONCLUSION

Participants from the Palestinian community are willing to learn about and comprehend nutrition facts and how it relates to diet behavior in 2021.

Development and evaluation of an intervention to improve food and nutrition literacy among Iranian Kurdish primary school children: An application of intervention mapping approach

Background

Food and nutrition literacy (FNLIT) is a relatively new term that is used to define the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to achieve a healthy diet. Improving food and nutritional literacy in children is a necessary solution to eliminate nutritional disorders in this age group. The purpose of this study was to design, implement and evaluate an intervention to improve food and nutrition literacy in children aged 10-12 years old based on an intervention mapping (IM) approach.

Methods

This experimental study was performed in three phases. Through the first phase, an intervention was developed using the (IM) approach. In the second phase, the intervention was implemented for 6 months, and in the third phase, the intervention outcomes were evaluated and compared with the control group through a randomized controlled trial among 300 participants (each control and intervention group = 150).

Results

Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the control and intervention groups in all subscales of FNLIT. After the intervention, there was a significant difference between the control and intervention groups in all subscales of FNLIT (P < 0/001). There were no differences between the two groups in terms of the FNLIT scores at baseline (P > 0.05). However, after 6 months of intervention, a significant difference was observed between the two groups (intra-group differences) (P < 0.001). Such a difference was not identified in the control group after 6 months also the results show the impact of socioeconomic factors and parental literacy on the average score of students' FNLIT and after the intervention, a significant difference was observed between the scores of control and intervention groups in all subscales of the FNLIT (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The school-based intervention developed and evaluated in this study provides a basis for future programs targeting the improvement of FNLIT in children, especially in poor and deprived areas such as Kurdistan province.

Clinical trial registration

Iranian Clinical Trials Registry (IRCT) Code: 32094.

Nutritional needs of children with disabilities in the UAE: understanding predictors and mediators of nutritional knowledge and practices

Background

There is a high estimated prevalence of obesity and poor eating habits among children with disabilities. Unfortunately, the extent of parental and teachers’ awareness of the dietary needs and nutritional requirements of children with disabilities has been understudied. This study aims to explore the predictors and mediators of nutritional knowledge and practices among parents and teachers of children with disabilities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using Nutbeam’s hierarchical health literacy model as a framework to test three hypotheses.

Methods

A total of 149 parents and teachers were recruited from rehabilitation centres in two of the seven Emirates in the UAE. The revised Food and Nutritional Literacy Scale (FNLIT) was used for data collection. The revised scale was validated and its reliability was assessed using SPSS and AMOS version 28 to compute exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis), respectively.

Results

The results confirmed a four-factor structure for FNLIT, and all three hypotheses were supported by the study findings. We confirmed a relationship between understanding and practical nutritional skills (Hypothesis I), and found that two practical nutritional skills, functional and interactive, combined to predict the understanding of nutritional needs of children with disabilities (Hypothesis II). Hypothesis III was partially supported in that participant type mediated the relationship between functional, interactive, and understanding factors. The convergent and discriminant validities of the scale were confirmed, and path analysis showed the ability of practical skills to predict knowledge.

Conclusion

The study concludes on the need for public education on nutritional needs as well as developing the capacity of teachers and parents to implement appropriate eating programmes for children with disabilities.