Nutrition Knowledge and the use of Nutrition Labels among Undergraduate Students in UiTM Puncak Alam
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the relationship between socio-demographic factors, nutrition knowledge, and the use of nutrition information labels during food purchases among undergraduate students in UiTM Puncak Alam. In this cross-sectional study, 156 undergraduate students between 18 and 25 years old were recruited from different locations in UiTM Puncak Alam. Data collection involved a self-report questionnaire with five sections covering sociodemographic and anthropometric information, nutrition knowledge level, use of food and nutrition labels, factors influencing label usage, and preferences for nutrition information formats. The Fisher’s Exact Test revealed no significant association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and nutrition knowledge or nutrition label usage (p>0.05). However, gender is significantly associated with nutrition knowledge (p<0.05). As for nutrition knowledge and nutrition label usage, there was no significant association between the level of nutrition knowledge and the use of nutrition labels during food purchases (p>0.05). To summarize, this research may determine the most recent data on general nutrition knowledge patterns among university students following the COVID-19 outbreak and underscores the importance of nutrition awareness in empowering students to make informed dietary choices, improving their health and well-being, necessitating targeted interventions and further research for a healthier, nutritionally aware generation.
References
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Bhutani S, Cooper JA. 2020. COVID-19 related home confinement in adults: Weight gain risks and opportunities. Obesity 28(9):1576-1577. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.22904
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Norimah AK, Hwong CS, Liew WC, Ruzita AT, Siti Sa'adiah HN, Ismail MN. 2010. Messages of the newly proposed Malaysian Dietary Guidelines (MDG): Do adults in Kuala Lumpur understand them? Malays J Nutr 16(1):113‒123.
Nurliyana G, Norazmir MN, An MK 2011. Knowledge, attitude and practices of university students regarding the use of nutritional information and food labels. Asian J Clin Nutr 3(3):79‒91. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajcn.2011.79-91
Ponnudurai NA, Ghazi HF, Hasan TN, Qader MAA, Baobaid MF. 2019. Usage of food label information among supermarket shoppers in Shah Alam, Malaysia. Int J Med Toxicol Leg Med 22(1and2):118‒124. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-4614.2019.00027.5
Rivera Medina C, Briones Urbano M, de Jesús Espinosa A, Toledo López Á. 2020. Eating habits associated with nutrition-related knowledge among university students enrolled in academic programs related to nutrition and culinary arts in Puerto Rico. Nutrients 12(5):1408. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051408
Roy R, Kelly B, Rangan A, Allman-Farinelli M. 2015. Food environment interventions to improve the dietary behavior of young adults in tertiary education settings: A systematic literature review. J Acad Nutr Diet 115(10):1647‒1681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2015.06.380
Spronk I, Kullen C, Burdon C, O’Connor H. 2014. Relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary intake. Br J Nutr 111(10):1713–1726. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114514000087
Staśkiewicz W, Grochowska-Niedworok E, Zydek G, Grajek M, Krupa-Kotara K, Białek-Dratwa A, Jaruga-Sękowska S, Kowalski O, Kardas M. 2023. The assessment of body composition and nutritional awareness of football players according to age. Nutrients 15(3):705. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030705
Yahia N, Brown CA, Rapley M, Chung M. 2016. Level of nutrition knowledge and its association with fat consumption among college students. BMC Public Health 16(1):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3728-z
Yasmin H, Khalil S, Mazhar R. 2020. COVID 19: Stress management among students and its impact on their effective learning. International Technology and Education Journal 4(2):65‒74. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1286695.pdf
Al-Barqi R, Al-Salem Y, Mahrous L, Abu Abat E, Al-Quraishi R, Benajiba N. 2020. Understanding barriers towards the use of food labels among Saudi female college students. Malays J Nutr 26(1):19–30. https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2019-0117
Al-Isa A, Alfaddagh A. 2014. Nutritional knowledge among Kuwaiti college students. Health 06(05):448–453. https://doi.org/10.4236/health.2014.65063
AlHazmi A, Aziz F. 2020. Dietary assessment and its awareness in female students from different Health Departments: Unhealthy diet with normal BMI. J Public Health Res 9(3). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphr.2020.1799
Bhutani S, Cooper JA. 2020. COVID-19 related home confinement in adults: Weight gain risks and opportunities. Obesity 28(9):1576-1577. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.22904
Buyuktuncer Z, Ayaz A, Dedebayraktar D, Inan-Eroglu E, Ellahi B, Besler H. 2018. Promoting a healthy diet in young adults: The role of nutrition labeling. Nutrients 10(10):1335. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10101335
Campos S, Doxey J, Hammond D. 2011. Nutrition labels on pre-packaged foods: a systematic review. Public Health Nutr 14(8):1496–1506. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980010003290
Emmy Hainida KI, Md Jasnin SN, Mohd Syrinaz A, Syima N. 2023. Dietary habit, physical activity and perceived barriers during movement control order among undergraduate students in Puncak Alam, Selangor. Food Res 7(1):264‒270. https://doi.org/10.26656/fr.2017.7(1).660
Heiman T, Olenik-Shemesh D. 2019. Perceived body appearance and eating habits: The voice of young and adult students attending higher education. Int J Environ Res Public Health 16(3):451. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030451
Jefrydin N, Nor NM, Talib RA. 2019. Nutrition labelling: An exploratory study on personal factors that influence the practice of reading nutrition labels among adolescents. Malaysian J Nutr 25(1):143‒153. https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2018-0123
Jiang K, Wen Y, Li S, Wang T, Li Z, Sharma M, Shi Z, Zhao Y. 2023. Differences in awareness of Chinese dietary guidelines among urban and rural residents: A cross-sectional survey in Southwest China. Int J Public Health 68:1605344. https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605344
Lim HJ, Kim MJ, Kim KW. 2015. Factors associated with nutrition label use among female college students applying the theory of planned behavior. Nutr Res Pract 9(1):63–70. https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2015.9.1.63
Lim JU, Lee JH, Kim JS, Hwang YI, Kim T, Lim SY, Yoo KH, Jung KS, Kim YK, Rhee CK. 2017. Comparison of World Health Organization and Asia-Pacific body mass index classifications in COPD patients. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 12:2465‒2475. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S141295
Martinez-Ferran M, de la Guía-Galipienso F, Sanchis-Gomar F, Pareja-Galeano H. 2020. Metabolic impacts of confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic due to modified diet and physical activity habits. Nutrients 12(6):1549. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061549
Marty L, Reed SM, Jones AJ, Robinson E. 2021. Increasing availability of lower energy meals vs. energy labelling in virtual full-service restaurants: Two randomized controlled trials in participants of higher and lower socioeconomic position. BMC Public Health 21(1):975 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11007-0
Miller LMS, Cassady DL. 2015. The effects of nutrition knowledge on food label use. A review of the literature. Appetite 92:207‒216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2015.05.029
Murimi MW. 2013. Healthy Literacy, nutrition education, and food literacy. J Nutr Educ Behav 45(3):195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2013.03.014
Nani MO. 2016. Relationship between Nutrition Knowledge and Food Intake of College Students [Thesis]. Ohio: Kent State University.
Norazlanshah H, Muhammad I, Hasmira MD, Mashita M, Norfazilah MR, Fazlyla Nadya M. 2013. The use of nutrition label on food purchasing decision among university students in Kuantan, Malaysia. J Environ Health 4(1):1‒10.
Norazmir MN, Norazlanshah H, Naqieyah N, Anuar MK. 2012. Understanding and use of food package nutrition label among educated young adults. Pak J Nutr 11(10):836. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2012.934.940
Norimah AK, Hwong CS, Liew WC, Ruzita AT, Siti Sa'adiah HN, Ismail MN. 2010. Messages of the newly proposed Malaysian Dietary Guidelines (MDG): Do adults in Kuala Lumpur understand them? Malays J Nutr 16(1):113‒123.
Nurliyana G, Norazmir MN, An MK 2011. Knowledge, attitude and practices of university students regarding the use of nutritional information and food labels. Asian J Clin Nutr 3(3):79‒91. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajcn.2011.79-91
Ponnudurai NA, Ghazi HF, Hasan TN, Qader MAA, Baobaid MF. 2019. Usage of food label information among supermarket shoppers in Shah Alam, Malaysia. Int J Med Toxicol Leg Med 22(1and2):118‒124. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-4614.2019.00027.5
Rivera Medina C, Briones Urbano M, de Jesús Espinosa A, Toledo López Á. 2020. Eating habits associated with nutrition-related knowledge among university students enrolled in academic programs related to nutrition and culinary arts in Puerto Rico. Nutrients 12(5):1408. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051408
Roy R, Kelly B, Rangan A, Allman-Farinelli M. 2015. Food environment interventions to improve the dietary behavior of young adults in tertiary education settings: A systematic literature review. J Acad Nutr Diet 115(10):1647‒1681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2015.06.380
Spronk I, Kullen C, Burdon C, O’Connor H. 2014. Relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary intake. Br J Nutr 111(10):1713–1726. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114514000087
Staśkiewicz W, Grochowska-Niedworok E, Zydek G, Grajek M, Krupa-Kotara K, Białek-Dratwa A, Jaruga-Sękowska S, Kowalski O, Kardas M. 2023. The assessment of body composition and nutritional awareness of football players according to age. Nutrients 15(3):705. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030705
Yahia N, Brown CA, Rapley M, Chung M. 2016. Level of nutrition knowledge and its association with fat consumption among college students. BMC Public Health 16(1):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3728-z
Yasmin H, Khalil S, Mazhar R. 2020. COVID 19: Stress management among students and its impact on their effective learning. International Technology and Education Journal 4(2):65‒74. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1286695.pdf
Authors
Khairul IkramE. H., Nadhirah NgahN. A., Khairul IkramF. E., & Abu Hassan ShaariN. S. (2024). Nutrition Knowledge and the use of Nutrition Labels among Undergraduate Students in UiTM Puncak Alam. Jurnal Gizi Dan Pangan, 19(Supp.2), 183-190. https://doi.org/10.25182/jgp.2024.19.Supp.2.183-190
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