Dietary Practices and Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Nutrition in Normal Weight and Overweight Women

Abstract

Relationships among attitudes, knowledge and practices related to nutrition were compared for normal weight (BMI <25) and overweight women (BMI = > 25) in two groups: women employed full time (62 overweight; 71 normal weight) and full time college students (48 overweight; 69 normal weight). A questionnaire assessed knowledge of and attitudes toward nutrition. Dietary intakes were determined using the National Cancer Institute's Health Habits and History Questionnaire (1994) and DIETSYS 3.3 for nutrient analysis. There were no statistically significant differences in nutrition attitude or knowledge scores between overweight women employees or students and their normal weight counterparts. A statistically significant relationship between nutrition knowledge and nutrition attitude scores (p<0.05) was observed in the normal weight working women and there was a similar trend for normal weight college women which approached statistical significance. But, nutrition attitude and knowledge scores were not significantly correlated in either group of overweight women. For normal weight women only, body weight (BMI) and % body fat were related to nutrition attitude scores (p<0.05). In all four groups of women there was a significant inverse relationship between dietary fat intake and nutrition knowledge scores (p<0.001) indicating that those with a more positive attitude toward nutrition had lower fat intakes. The theory of reasoned action is based on cause and effect Knowledge in a given area may cause a more positive attitude in the area and in turn influence behavior. The relationship of body weight and body fat to nutrition attitude provides some support this theory at least for normal weight women.