Calorie Labeling Impact on Consumers Who Understand Their Calorie Needs: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Saudi Arabia has an obesity prevalence of 38.96%, ranking 15th globally. The increasing prevalence of obesity has motivated Saudi Arabian health policymakers to develop national strategies to prevent or reduce the anticipated increase in cases. Therefore, the Food and Drug Authority has recently enacted compulsory calorie labeling on the menus of all food industry providers who provide food and drinks to consumers outside their homes. This study aimed to determine whether calorie labeling on fast-food restaurant menus helps consumers make informed decisions about their food consumption. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted in Saudi Arabia between April and October 2022 employed a self-reported online survey to investigate the influence of caloric labeling on residents’ food-ordering decisions and to determine the effects of the independent variables on calorie requirement knowledge. Participants included Arabic- and English-speaking adults residing in different regions of Saudi Arabia. Data collection utilized a river sampling technique, employing social media platforms for survey distribution. The inclusion criteria encompassed adult Saudi residents exposed to calorie labels, while those who did not encounter such labels were excluded. Results: This study aimed to examine the factors influencing individuals’ food choices and their knowledge of daily calorie requirements. A social media advertisement was used to recruit 935 participants, with 760 included in the final analysis. Descriptive statistics revealed that the mean age of participants was 37.5 years, with 61.1% being female. Moreover, 59.3% reported having a college degree, and the mean monthly income was SAR 7,725. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that knowing the daily calorie requirements significantly influenced food choices, with individuals who knew their calorie needs being four times more likely to use calorie labels when selecting food. However, other independent variables were found to be statistically insignificant. Additionally, age and citizenship status were significantly associated with knowledge of calorie requirements, with the 18–29 age group and Saudi Arabian citizens showing higher knowledge levels. Discussion: The findings of this study may catalyze further research aimed at measuring and understanding other variables that may impact consumer choices, such as pictures and font sizes, and understanding consumer knowledge and awareness of daily calorie requirements.