Abstract
Background: Food Sensations for Adults, funded by the Western Australian Department of Health, is a four-week nutrition education program focused on food literacy, with demonstrated success amongst Western Australians. In the last two years, 25% of programs have been in regional and remote areas and therefore the aim of this research is to explore the impact of the program in regional areas. Methods: Participants answered validated pre- and post-questionnaires to assess change in food literacy behaviours (2016–2018). Results: Regional participants (n = 451) were more likely to live in low income areas, have lower education levels, and identify as Aboriginal, than metropolitan participants (n = 1398). Regional participants had statistically significantly higher food literacy behaviours in the plan and manage and preparation domains, and lower selection behaviours at baseline than metropolitan participants. Post program, regional participants showed matched improvements with metropolitan participants in the plan and manage, and preparation domains. Food selection behaviour results increased in both groups but were significantly higher in regional participants. Conclusions: The program demonstrates effective behaviour change in all participants; however, the increased disadvantage experienced by people residing outside of major cities highlights the need for additional government support in addressing regional specific barriers, such as higher food costs, to ensure participants gain maximum benefit from future food literacy programs.
Highlights
The 2017–2018 National Health Survey found that adults living in regional areas were more likely to meet vegetable recommendations, but not fruit, when compared to those living in major cities (9.5% with 6.9% respectively) [2], they were more likely to consume sugar-sweetened drinks daily (14% compared to 8.3%) [2]
This study found that after the program, Selection was the food literacy domain that improved the most, yet at the same time regional participants did not change their attitude that healthy foods cost more than unhealthy foods
The findings of this study demonstrate that FSA effectively produces improvements in food literacy behaviours within a four-week period in both regional and metropolitan participants
Summary
The dietary intakes of regional Australians differ to those in metropolitan areas [2]. The dietary differences are a contributing factor to regional Australians being more likely to be overweight or obese compared to people in major cities (72.4% with 65.0%, respectively) [2]. Regional participants had statistically significantly higher food literacy behaviours in the plan and manage and preparation domains, and lower selection behaviours at baseline than metropolitan participants. Food selection behaviour results increased in both groups but were significantly higher in regional participants. Conclusions: The program demonstrates effective behaviour change in all participants; the increased disadvantage experienced by people residing outside of major cities highlights the need for additional government support in addressing regional specific barriers, such as higher food costs, to ensure participants gain maximum benefit from future food literacy programs
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