206506 Food label use and awareness of nutritional information and recommendations among persons with chronic disease

Monday, November 9, 2009

John E. Lewis, PhD , Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL
Kristopher L. Arheart, EdD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
William G. LeBlanc, PhD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
Lora E. Fleming, MD, PhD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - OHH Center and NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
David J. Lee, PhD , Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Evelyn Davila, MPH , Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Florida International University, Miami, FL
Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, MPH , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
Noella Dietz, PhD , Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Leonard Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Kathryn E. McCollister, PhD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
John D. Clark III, PhD , Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Miami, FL
Frank C. Bandiera, MPH , Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
INTRODUCTION: Given the relationship between chronic disease (e.g., coronary artery and cardiovascular disease and diabetes) and poor nutritional habits, using food labels and heeding dietary recommendations are needed within these populations, but are not well understood. The results of this study will better explicate the degree to which these populations utilize nutrient information on food labels and are aware of dietary guidelines. The objective of this study was to assess food label and dietary information use among persons with chronic disease using a nationally-representative sample of the US population.

METHODS: A total of 22,562 respondents aged 16 and older were utilized as part of the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This ongoing stratified multistage probability sample of the US civilian non-institutionalized population asked participants 17 questions regarding their awareness of federal nutrition information programs and their use of food labels. Participants were classified into the following chronic disease categories: (1) hypertension; (2) hypercholesterolemia; (3) diabetes; (4) overweight; and (5) chronic heart disease.

RESULTS: Our findings reveal those subjects with chronic diseases specifically related to insufficient dietary habits generally report being more aware of nutritional recommendations, checking for specific nutrients, and using nutrition information on food labels, compared to participants who did not report such diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: Generally, people with a chronic disease use nutrition labels, check for specific nutrients, and are aware of national nutrition recommendations compared to those without chronic disease. Chronic disease sufferers may be open to increasing healthy dietary behaviors.

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe the relationship between chronic disease (e.g., coronary artery and cardiovascular disease and diabetes) and poor nutritional habits. 2) Evaluate if individuals with chronic disease are heeding national dietary recommendations. 3) List which chronic disease categories specifically were related to insufficient dietary habits. 4) Describe how to use the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to assess food label knowledge.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Health Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Presenter hold a PhD in Education and Psychological Studies
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.