scholarly journals Electronic Health Literacy and Dietary Behaviors in Taiwanese College Students: Cross-Sectional Study

10.2196/13140 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. e13140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Ching Yang ◽  
Yi Fang Luo ◽  
Chia-Hsun Chiang
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Dietary Behaviors ◽  
Individual Factors ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Ehealth Literacy ◽  
Balanced Diet

Background Given the recognized importance of preventing poor dietary behaviors during adolescence, we need a better understanding of college students’ dietary behaviors. Studies have found that individual factors and electronic health (eHealth) literacy may affect one’s dietary behaviors. However, few studies have fully investigated the effect of the three levels of eHealth literacy (functional, interactive, and critical) and the interactive effect of individual factors (eg, gender, monthly expenses, and frequency of cooking) and the three levels of eHealth literacy on the four aspects of dietary behaviors (consumer health, balanced diet, regular eating habits, and unhealthy food intake). Objective This study aimed to investigate whether individual differences and higher eHealth literacy are associated with more positive dietary behaviors and less unhealthy dietary intake. Methods The eHealth Literacy Scale is a 12-item instrument designed to measure college students’ functional, interactive, and critical eHealth literacy. The Dietary Behaviors Scale is a 14-item instrument developed to measure four aspects of dietary behaviors of college students. A questionnaire was administered to collect background information about participants’ gender, monthly expenses, and frequency of cooking. A national sample of college students was surveyed, and 813 responses were obtained. We conducted a multiple regression analysis to examine the association among individual factors, eHealth literacy, and dietary behaviors. Results This study found that functional eHealth literacy was negatively related to unhealthy food intake (beta=−.11; P=.01), and interactive eHealth literacy was positively related to balanced diet (beta=.25; P<.001) and consumer health (beta=.15; P=.02). Moreover, critical eHealth literacy was positively related to consumer health (beta=.30; P<.001) and regular eating habits (beta=.20; P=.002). Finally, the interactive effect between gender and interactive eHealth literacy was negatively related to balanced diet (beta=−.22; P<.001). The interactive effect between monthly expenses and functional eHealth literacy was positively related to balanced diet (beta=.07; P=.03), although the interactive effect between monthly expenses and critical eHealth literacy was negatively related to balanced diet (beta=−.10; P=.047). Conclusions This study showed that Taiwanese college students with higher functional eHealth literacy were more likely to engage in fewer unhealthy food consumption practices. Those who had higher interactive and critical eHealth literacy were more likely to engage in positive dietary behaviors than those with functional eHealth literacy. Surprisingly, females with high interactive eHealth literacy were more likely to have a poor balanced diet. In contrast, students with higher monthly expenses and higher functional eHealth literacy were more likely to have a balanced diet. However, students with higher monthly expenses and higher critical eHealth literacy were less likely to maintain a balanced diet.

scholarly journals Electronic Health Literacy and Dietary Behaviors in Taiwanese College Students: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Ching Yang ◽  
Yi Fang Luo ◽  
Chia-Hsun Chiang
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Dietary Behaviors ◽  
Individual Factors ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Ehealth Literacy ◽  
Balanced Diet

BACKGROUND Given the recognized importance of preventing poor dietary behaviors during adolescence, we need a better understanding of college students’ dietary behaviors. Studies have found that individual factors and electronic health (eHealth) literacy may affect one’s dietary behaviors. However, few studies have fully investigated the effect of the three levels of eHealth literacy (functional, interactive, and critical) and the interactive effect of individual factors (eg, gender, monthly expenses, and frequency of cooking) and the three levels of eHealth literacy on the four aspects of dietary behaviors (consumer health, balanced diet, regular eating habits, and unhealthy food intake). OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate whether individual differences and higher eHealth literacy are associated with more positive dietary behaviors and less unhealthy dietary intake. METHODS The eHealth Literacy Scale is a 12-item instrument designed to measure college students’ functional, interactive, and critical eHealth literacy. The Dietary Behaviors Scale is a 14-item instrument developed to measure four aspects of dietary behaviors of college students. A questionnaire was administered to collect background information about participants’ gender, monthly expenses, and frequency of cooking. A national sample of college students was surveyed, and 813 responses were obtained. We conducted a multiple regression analysis to examine the association among individual factors, eHealth literacy, and dietary behaviors. RESULTS This study found that functional eHealth literacy was negatively related to unhealthy food intake (beta=−.11; <italic>P</italic>=.01), and interactive eHealth literacy was positively related to balanced diet (beta=.25; <italic>P</italic>&lt;.001) and consumer health (beta=.15; <italic>P</italic>=.02). Moreover, critical eHealth literacy was positively related to consumer health (beta=.30; <italic>P</italic>&lt;.001) and regular eating habits (beta=.20; <italic>P</italic>=.002). Finally, the interactive effect between gender and interactive eHealth literacy was negatively related to balanced diet (beta=−.22; <italic>P</italic>&lt;.001). The interactive effect between monthly expenses and functional eHealth literacy was positively related to balanced diet (beta=.07; <italic>P</italic>=.03), although the interactive effect between monthly expenses and critical eHealth literacy was negatively related to balanced diet (beta=−.10; <italic>P</italic>=.047). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that Taiwanese college students with higher functional eHealth literacy were more likely to engage in fewer unhealthy food consumption practices. Those who had higher interactive and critical eHealth literacy were more likely to engage in positive dietary behaviors than those with functional eHealth literacy. Surprisingly, females with high interactive eHealth literacy were more likely to have a poor balanced diet. In contrast, students with higher monthly expenses and higher functional eHealth literacy were more likely to have a balanced diet. However, students with higher monthly expenses and higher critical eHealth literacy were less likely to maintain a balanced diet.

scholarly journals The Associations between Individual Factors, eHealth Literacy, and Health Behaviors among College Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 2108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiao Ling Huang ◽  
Shu-Ching Yang ◽  
Chia-Hsun Chiang
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Dietary Behaviors ◽  
Individual Factors ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Subjective Health Status ◽  
Exercise Habits ◽  
Ehealth Literacy

Background: This study aimed to investigate the associations between individual factors, electronic health (eHealth) literacy, dietary behaviors, and exercise habits in college students, as well as the moderating effect of gender on the above target behaviors. Methods: A pen-and-paper questionnaire with a stratified sampling method was used to collect data, and at least 100 students from each stratum were determined to be used for the official sample in this study. Finally, 674 students completed the survey. Results and Conclusions: Chi-square test results demonstrated that genders had dissimilar dietary supplement use and subjective health status. Further analyses indicated females had a higher likelihood of taking dietary supplements and poorer subjective health statuses. The t-test results indicated that the functional eHealth literacy, dietary behaviors, and exercise habits of genders were different, and the mean scores showed that males had higher functional eHealth literacy, healthier dietary behaviors, and higher exercise involvement than females. Regression analyses showed that students who were male, took dietary supplements, placed the utmost importance on health, and had high critical eHealth literacy tended to possess healthy dietary behaviors. Students who were male and had good subjective health statuses tended to have higher exercise involvement. Specifically, the critical eHealth literacy changed dietary behaviors less effectively for women than for men, and the subjective health status changed exercise habits less effectively for women than for men. Therefore, when designing the diet and exercise intervention programs, gender-specific programs rather than generic programs should be given priority to develop.

scholarly journals Ingestão dietética e fatores associados ao consumo alimentar de universitários brasileiros: uma revisão

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 778
Author(s):  
Francini Xavier Rossetti
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Eating Habits

O presente artigo teve como objetivo revisar a literatura sobre hábitos alimentares de universitários brasileiros e identificar possíveis condicionantes.  A revisão consistiu na busca de artigos publicados entre 2004 e 2014 nas bases de dados Pubmed, Lilacs e Scielo, por meio da combinação dos termos: college students, university, nutrition, diet, food consumption, eating habits, food intake, dietary intake.  Outra estratégia foi a busca manual nas listas de referências dos artigos identificados e selecionados por meio da pesquisa eletrônica. Optou-se por excluir publicações com amostra indivíduos exclusivamente do sexo feminino, selecionando-se 9 artigos para análise. Os principais fatores associados ao consumo alimentar entre universitários brasileiros foram rendimento familiar, dupla jornada de estudo e trabalho, área do curso de graduação, estado nutricional, sexo e local de realização das refeições.  A produção científica sobre consumo alimentar de universitários brasileiros é escassa, destacando-se maiores contribuições nos últimos 5 anos. Em relação aos métodos utilizados, predominam questionários de frequência alimentar. A análise sob a ótica de padrões de consumo alimentar, a necessidade de relacionar o consumo com medidas de desfecho e a necessidade de estudos longitudinais com essa população se fazem necessários, levando em consideração delineamentos adequados, do ponto de vista dos condicionantes do consumo alimentar do ponto de vista sociodemográfico, ambiental e individual.

scholarly journals Selected aspects of child nutrition and the risk of obesity

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-170
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Anna Majewska ◽  
Magdalena Kobylińska ◽  
Agata Krasińska ◽  
Paulina Wais ◽  
Andrzej Kędzia
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Energy Charge ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
The Body ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Behavioral Aspects ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIntroduction. Food is the basic source of energy for humans. Properly matched for the age and needs of the body, a balanced diet is a condition for proper growth and development during childhood. The aim of the study is to review the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of the nutrition model, diet composition and behavioral aspects related to food intake on the occurrence of obesity in children and adolescents.Conclusions. Too much energy charge in food, disturbing the balance between energy supply and expenditure, is a common cause of childhood obesity. The rate of weight gain in children is also affected by other factors, such as the model of feeding during infancy, eating habits in the early years of life, and a number of behavioral aspects related to food intake.Taste preferences and eating habits are formed in a child from the first years of life and are often continued during adulthood, therefore, an essential element of obesity prevention must cover the extensive early education involving parents, caregivers and the children themselves.

EXPRESS: How Communications that Portray Unhealthy Food Consumption Reduce Food Intake Among Dieters

2021 ◽  
pp. 074391562110190
Author(s):  
Mia M. Birau ◽  
Diogo Hildebrand ◽  
Carolina O. C. Werle
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Reduce Food Intake ◽  
Unhealthy Food

Both regulatory agencies and nonprofit organizations seek to understand how different tactics and appeals contained in food and public health advertisements might influence the food intake of an increasingly dieting-concerned population. This article addresses this important issue by examining how consumers who are concerned with their diets react to rich images of unhealthy food consumption. Results of two experiments show that exposure to food advertisements containing unhealthy food consumption imagery reduces food intake among consumers chronically concerned with dieting, whereas a third experiment shows a similar decrease in intended consumption when a public health advertisement portrays the consumption of unhealthy food. These findings in turn offer guidelines for maximizing the effectiveness of messages that attempt to promote healthy eating habits. Additionally, this research provides theoretical contributions to the self-control and mental imagery research domains which have public policy implications for regulatory agencies and nonprofit organizations.

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