Abstract
BackgroundDiet-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KABs) are important for building healthier dietary patterns. We conducted this study to (a) investigate diet conditions of Chinese adult residents from the perspective of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, and (b) assess the association between diet-related KABs and self-rated health.MethodsWe analyzed the 2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) data. Individuals aged 18 years and older were included as study subjects (n = 12,814), assessing their diet-related knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and self-rated health. Comparison of diet-related KABs in urban and rural residents was conducted using chi-square test. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was adopted to examine the association between diet-related KABs and self-rated health.ResultsThe proportion of knowing about the Chinese Food Pagoda (CFP) or the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (DGCR) was 27.1%. 34.3% of the participants were assessed as having adequate dietary knowledge literacy. 24.3% reported a positive attitude towards healthy eating. 27.6 and 65.9% of the participants reported proactively looking for nutrition knowledge and preferring eating fruits & vegetables, respectively. Chi-square test indicated that rural people experienced poorer diet-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors than urban residents (all p-values < 0.01). Regression analysis revealed that participants who knew about CFP/DGCR (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.08–1.15), had adequate dietary knowledge literacy (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.10–1.15), held positive attitude towards healthy eating (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.09–1.19), proactively looked for nutrition knowledge (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.08–1.15), and preferred eating fruits & vegetables (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.07–1.12) had significantly better self-rated health.ConclusionsChinese adult residents experienced poor diet-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Rural people had significantly worse diet conditions than urban residents. Better diet-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were associated with higher self-rated health in Chinese adult residents.
Highlights
Diet-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KABs) are important for building healthier dietary patterns
Assessing diet-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors was of vital importance in dietary health promotion at the population level [6,7,8], and it should be a necessary prerequisite for the implementation of dietary intervention in China
The proportion of knowing about Chinese Food Pagoda (CFP)/Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (DGCR) and having adequate dietary knowledge literacy were 27.1 and 34.3%. 24.3% of the participants held positive attitude towards healthy eating. 27.6 and 65.9% of the participants reported the behavior of proactively looking for nutrition knowledge and preferring eating fruits & vegetables
Summary
Diet-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KABs) are important for building healthier dietary patterns. We conducted this study to (a) investigate diet conditions of Chinese adult residents from the perspective of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, and (b) assess the association between diet-related KABs and self-rated health. The theory of Knowledge, Attitude/Belief, and Behavior/Practice (KAB) was originally proposed to emphasize the vital role of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in health management [4]. KAB theory holds that individual health behavior is composed of three consecutive processes: acquiring knowledge, generating beliefs, and forming behaviors. Assessing diet-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors was of vital importance in dietary health promotion at the population level [6,7,8], and it should be a necessary prerequisite for the implementation of dietary intervention in China
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
