The purpose of this study was to examine consumers’ knowledge and understanding of the 1995 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the sources from where consumers obtain their health information. A telephone survey was administered to 400 adults in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota. The number of guideline recommendations recalled per person was, on average, less than 2.5 of a total of 13 recommendations. Participants had difficulties interpreting the guidelines. Knowledge of the dietary fat guideline was especially poor. Only 17% of survey participants correctly stated the amount of total fat they should have in their diet. The total number of media sources used to obtain health information was the variable that best explained the variance in knowledge of the Dietary Guidelines recommendations. To effectively change dietary behavior, health educators must work effectively with the media to develop behavior-focused nutrition messages that are meaningful and clear to consumers.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
1. U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans (4th ed.). Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1995. (Home and Garden Bulletin No. 232.)
3. Schwatrz NE: Narrowing the gap: Practical strategies for increasing whole-grain consumption. Critical Rev Food Sci Nutr34(5/6):513-516, 1994.
4.
4. Truswell AS: Practical and realistic approaches to healthier diet modifications. Am J Clin Nutr67(suppl. 3): S583-S590, 1998.
5.
5. Levy AS, Fein SB, Stephenson M: Nutrition knowledge levels about dietary fats and cholesterol: 1983-1988. J Nutr Educ25:60-66, 1993.
6.
6. Commentary. Improving public understanding: Guidelines for communicating emerging science on nutrition, food safety, and health. J Natl Cancer Inst90(3): 194-199, 1998.
7.
7. Auld GW, Achterberg C, Durrwachter J, Novak J: Gender differences in adults’ knowledge about fat and cholesterol. J Am Diet Assoc91(11): 1391-1397, 1991.
8.
8. Achterberg CL: Qualitative research: What do we know about teaching good nutritional habits?J Nutr124:1808S-1812S, 1994.
9.
9. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion: Dietary Guidelines Focus Group Report. Unpublished report. Washington, DC, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, 1995.
10.
10. U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans (5th ed.). Washington, DC, Government Printing Office, 2000. (Home and Garden Bulletin No. 232.)
11.
11. Rogers EM: Diffusion of Innovations (4th ed.). New York, Free Press, 1995.
12.
12. Peterson S, Sigman-Grant M, Eisenstat B, Kris-Etherton P: Impact of adopting lower-fat food choices on energy and nutrient intakes of American adults. J Am Diet Assoc99(2): 177-183, 1999.
13.
13. Sigman-Grant M: Can you have your low-fat cake and eat it too? The role of fat-modified products. J Am Diet Assoc97(suppl. 7): S76-S81, 1997.
14.
14. Patterson RE, Kristal AR, Coates RJ, Tylvasky FA, Ritenbaugh C, van Horn L, Caggiula AW, Snetselaar L: Low-fat diet practices of older women: Prevalence and implications for dietary assessment. J Am Diet Assoc96(7): 670-679, 1996.
15.
15. Subar AS, Heimendinger J, Krebs-Smith SM, Patterson BH, Kessler R, Pivonka E: 5-A-Day for Better Health: A Baseline Study for Americans’Fruit and Vegetable Consumption. Washington, DC, National Cancer Institute, 1992.
16.
16. Auld GW, Bruhn CM, McNulty J, Bock MA, Gabel K, Lauritzen G, Medeiros D, Newman R, Nitzke S, Ortiz M, Read M, Schutz H, Sheehan ET: Reported adoption of dietary fat and fiber recommendations among consumers. J Am Diet Assoc100(1): 52-58, 2000.
18. AbuSabha R, Hsieh G, Achterberg C: Dietary fat-reduction strategies in older adults. J Am Diet Assoc (in press).
19.
19. CACI Marketing Systems: The Sourcebookof Zip Code Demographics, 1995 (9th ed.). Arlington, VA, CACI International Inc., 1995.
20.
20. Salmon CT, Nichols JS: The next-birthday method of respondent selection. Public Opinion Q47(2): 270-276, 1983.
21.
21. Plous S, Chesne RB, McDowell AV: Nutrition knowledge and attitudes of cardiac patients. JAm Diet Assoc95(4): 442-446, 1995.
22.
22. Kelly RB, Hazey JA, McMahon SH.Patient’s knowledge about fats and cholesterol in the Community Cholesterol Survey Project. Arch Fam Med1:75-82, 1992.
23.
23. Shine A, O’Reilly S, O’Sullivan K: Consumer attitudes to nutrition labeling. British Food J99(8/9): 283-289, 1997.
24.
24. Van Woerkum CMJ: Media choice in nutrition education of general practitioners. Am J Clin Nutr65(suppl. 6): S2013-S2015, 1997.
25.
25. The American Dietetic Association: Nutrition and You: Trends 2000. Available at: http://www.eatright.org/pr/2000.html. Accessed January 21, 2000.
26.
26. Position of the American Dietetic Association: Nutrition education for health care professionals. J Am Diet Assoc98(3): 343-346, 1998.
27.
27. Guthrie JF, Morton JF: Food sources of added sweeteners in the diets of Americans. J Am Diet Assoc100(1):43-48, 51-51, 2000.
28.
28. Neuhouser ML, Kristal AR, Patterson RE: Use of food nutrition labels is associated with lower fat intake. J Am Diet Assoc99(1):45-50, 53-53, 1999.
29.
29. Pennington JAT, Hubbard VS: Derivation of daily values use for nutrition labeling. J Am Diet Assoc97:1407-1412, 1997.
30.
30. Wellman NS: Dietary guidance and nutrient requirements of the elderly. Primary Care21(1): 1-18, 1994.
31.
31. Schwartz NE, Borra ST: What do consumers really think about dietary fat?J Am Diet Assoc97(suppl. 7): S73-S75, 1997.
32.
32. Reichler G, Dalton S: Chef’s attitudes toward healthful food preparation are more positive than their food science knowledge and practices. J Am Diet Assoc98(2): 165-169, 1998.
33.
33. Stuart TH, Achterberg C: Education and communication strategies for different groups and settings. FAO Food and Nutrition Papers62:71-107, 1997.
34.
34. AbuSabha R: Effective Nutrition Education for Behavior Change. Clarksville, MD, Wolf Rinke, 1998.
35.
35. Position of the American Dietetic Association: Nutrition education for the public. J Am Diet Assoc96(11): 1183-1187, 1996.
36.
36. Achterberg C, McDonnell E, Bagby R: How to put the Food Guide Pyramid into practice. JAm Diet Assoc94(9): 1030-1035, 1994.
37.
37. Position of the American Dietetic Association: Food and nutrition misinformation. J Am Diet Assoc95(6): 705-707, 1995.
