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Wei H, Jiang K, Liu B, Hu Z, Zhao Y, Xu H, Sharma M, Pu C. Understanding and Use of Nutrition Labels of Prepackaged Food by University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Chongqing, China. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14194189. [PMID: 36235839 PMCID: PMC9573194 DOI: 10.3390/nu14194189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Object: The correct use of nutrition labels for prepackaged food helps university students develop healthy eating habits and prevent the occurrence of chronic non-communicable diseases. This study evaluates the understanding and use of nutrition labels of prepackaged food by university students in four different fields of study in Chongqing, China. Methods: This cross-sectional study used an online survey platform conducted in July 2022 in colleges and universities in Chongqing, China. The convenience sampling method was used to select students in four different fields of study, including medicine, humanities, science and technology, and arts and sports. Ten questions were used to assess participants’ understanding of nutrition labels. A score of six or above (60%) indicates that the respondent has a basic understanding of the nutritional labels of prepackaged food. Descriptive statistics and generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to assess participants’ understanding and use of nutrition labels for prepackaged foods and their influencing factors. Results: A total of 1262 valid questionnaires was collected. The average age of the participants was 21.8 years (SD: 2.43), 50.1% were male, 80.8% were ethnic Han, and 50.9% were from rural areas. Only 21.3% of the university students in Chongqing had a good understanding of the nutrition labels of prepackaged food, where medical students were the highest (39.9%) and science and engineering students were the lowest (15.6%). Gender, ethnicity, grade, major, and whether received courses related to nutrition were influential factors in the understanding and use of nutrition labels of prepackaged food. Medical students also had more positive attitudes toward nutritional labels of prepackaged food. Conclusions: Understanding and use of nutrition labels for prepackaged food by university students in Chongqing are unsatisfactory. Student’s major was a significant influencing factor in nutrition label comprehension, with medical students having the greatest understanding. Based on these results, we suggest that nutrition and health courses should be popularized among non-medical students to narrow the differences between different fields of study. For university students in all fields of study, education and publicity of nutrition labels of prepackaged food are needed, not only in the classroom but also in daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wei
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Warning of Health-Related Major Social Risks, Chongqing Medical University Sub Center, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Ke Jiang
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Public Health Security, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Boya Liu
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Warning of Health-Related Major Social Risks, Chongqing Medical University Sub Center, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Zhichuan Hu
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Public Health Security, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Public Health Security, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Hong Xu
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Warning of Health-Related Major Social Risks, Chongqing Medical University Sub Center, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Manoj Sharma
- Department of Social and Behavioral Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA
| | - Chuan Pu
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Warning of Health-Related Major Social Risks, Chongqing Medical University Sub Center, Chongqing 400016, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-133-2033-6327; Fax: +86-23-6848-5178
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Yardımcı H, Demirer B. The effect of orthorexia nervosa on food label reading habits among university students. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:2173-2180. [PMID: 35113357 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-022-01366-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This observational cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate university students' food label reading habits with and without orthorexia nervosa (ON) tendency. METHODS Data were collected online with a questionnaire. The questionnaire form included sociodemographic variables, the ORTO-11 scale, the reading frequency of some components on the food label, and the evaluation of some opinions about the food label. The obtained data were evaluated with SPSS 25.0 statistical package program and GraphPad Prism program. RESULTS A total of 674 university students (mean age: 21.03 ± 2.43 years), 537 women (79.7%) and 137 men (20.3%) were included in the study. It was determined that individuals with ON tendency read some nutrients, content information, serving size, health information, instructions for use, additives and brand more frequently compared to individuals without ON tendency (p < 0.05). At the same time, it was determined that individuals with ON tendency were more likely to agree with the idea that reading food labels is important for a healthy diet, compared to individuals with normal eating behavior (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The study findings show that individuals with ON tendency have a higher habits of reading food labels compared to individuals with normal eating behavior. To reach a decision on this issue and to determine the diagnostic criteria for ON, future studies should be conducted on different groups and samples with higher participation, as well as studies using different screening tools to determine the tendency for ON. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V, Cross-sectional descriptive study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hülya Yardımcı
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetic, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Büşra Demirer
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetic, Karabuk University, Karabuk, Turkey.
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Phan L, Kubota J, Pignotti GAP. Carbohydrate Knowledge Observed to be Low in Vietnamese Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR 2022; 54:551-556. [PMID: 35305897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess carbohydrate knowledge of Vietnamese women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and explore factors associated with carbohydrate knowledge. METHODS Vietnamese women (n = 100) with GDM completed an online questionnaire about self-efficacy in managing blood glucose, the habit of regularly self-monitoring blood glucose activities at home, and an adapted culturally tailored carbohydrate quiz for the target population. RESULTS Participants (30 ± 4 years) answered on average 51% of the carbohydrate knowledge questions correctly, showing most difficulty in identifying honey, milk, and orange juice as carbohydrate sources. Only 46% of participants correctly identified carbohydrate content on nutrition labels, and 58% practice self-monitoring blood glucose activities at home. Carbohydrate knowledge was positively associated with self-efficacy in blood glucose management (r2 = 0.101, P = 0.003) and practicing self-monitoring blood glucose (r2 = 0.064, P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS There is a need to provide nutrition education about carbohydrate knowledge and blood glucose control to Vietnamese women to manage GDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily Phan
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging, San José State University, San José, CA
| | - Jamie Kubota
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging, San José State University, San José, CA
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