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

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.