Relationship Between Nutrition Knowledge and Obesity in Southern California Adults

Background Over one third of the adult population in the U.S. are obese placing them at higher risk for morbidity or mortality. Objective To determine if lack of nutrition knowledge has a positive impact on eating behaviors using obesity status as an indicator. Design Participants completed the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ), Anonymous Demographic Questionnaire (ADQ), and anthropometric measurements were taken during a one-time meeting lasting about one hour. Participants/Setting Data collection was completed on 334 participants between the ages of 18-55 years in a southern California community sample. Intervention Anthropometric measurements were collected by the research team and consisted of waist circumference, height, weight, and Bio-impedance analysis. Main Outcome Measures Questionnaires were scored by the researchers using a predefined answer guide. Statistical Analyses Performed Statistical analysis was completed using Mann-Whitney Test for multiple comparisons. Results There was no significant difference between mean GNKQ % score for gender (p=.21); Table 1. There was a significant difference between mean GNKQ % score for the age group and income (p=.02 and p=.04, respectively); Table 1. There was a significant difference between GNKQ % score for normal vs. overweight BMI class (p=.001) and with overweight vs obese BMI class (p=.001); Table 2. There was no significant difference between mean GNKQ % score for male waist circumference \u3c 40 vs. ≥ 40 (p=.49). However, there was a significant difference between mean GNKQ % score for female waist circumference \u3c35 vs. ≥ 35 (p=.002); Table 2. Conclusions Obesity is multifactorial and thus cannot be pinned on any one factor such as diet, exercise or nutrition knowledge. There is potential benefit to implement nutrition intervention during this obesity epidemic. Our findings suggest that participants who were obese, had lower nutrition knowledge than those who were of normal BMI. Lack of nutrition knowledge may be one of the many contributing factors for obesity