• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.112-121
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• 2023

Purpose: Eating behaviors are influenced by food environments, such as availability and/or accessibility of healthy food options. In this study, we examined the relationship between healthy eating-out options and the intention to eat healthily in adults residing in Daqing, China, using an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB). Methods: Data were collected via an online survey conducted from April to May 2021 using a previously validated questionnaire in Daqing. A total number of 308 subjects aged 18-64, either Daqing oilfield workers or their family members were eligible and finally included in the analysis. The relationships among the attributes and the quality of healthy eating-out options, the three major constructs of TPB, and the intentions of healthy eating were examined using multiple linear regression analyses. Results: Subjective norms (p = 0.049) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) (p = 0.000) were significantly related to the healthy eating intention. The quality and attributes of the food served statistically significantly explained the intention to eat healthily. After controlling for age, sex, and body mass index, not the quality but the attributes of food served (p = 0.037), subjective norms (p = 0.016), and PBC (p = 0.000) had a significant relationship with the intention to eat healthily. The model explained 83.7% of the variance. Conclusion: The healthy eating-out choices, along with subjective norms and PBC of TPB, may be a potential determinant of healthy eating intention among Chinese adults living in Daqing, China. Policy implications have highlighted that not only the personal intention to eat healthy foods, but also the available healthy food environment may be important for the choice of healthy options by the population of interest. Therefore, building an environment for healthy eating choices and campaigns aimed at increasing consumer awareness of healthy eating are equally important for a smart eating choice.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.578-584
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• 2011

Compliance with food group and nutrient recommendations, and self-efficacy, stage of change, perceived barriers and benefits for healthy eating were assessed among a convenience sample of college students majoring in health-related disciplines. Dietary and psychosocial data were collected using three-day food records and scales, respectively. Means (SD), frequencies, and percents were calculated on all data, and logistic regressions were used to determine whether any of the psychosocial correlates predicted the stage of change for healthy eating. Noncompliance with food group recommendations ranged from 53% for the meat/meat alternates group to 93% for the vegetables/juice group, whereas noncompliance with nutrient recommendations ranged from 26% for cholesterol to 99% for potassium. A majority of students (57%) self-classified in the preaction and 40% in the action stages of change for eating healthy. The students' self-efficacy to eat healthy was highest in positive/social situations and lowest when experiencing emotional upset. The most important perceived barrier to healthy eating was that friends/roommates do not like to eat healthy foods, and the most important perceived benefit was that eating healthy foods provides the body with adequate nutrients. The difficult/inconvenient self-efficacy subscale predicted the stage of change for healthy eating. These students would benefit from interactive learning opportunities that teach how to purchase and prepare more whole grain foods, fruits, and vegetables, enhance their self-efficacy for making healthy food choices when experiencing negative emotions, and overcome perceived barriers to healthy eating.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2021

Purpose: The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was used to investigate how the psychological constructs of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) affect the individual intention of behaviors in adults. Social support is also important in enabling the stability of healthy eating. This study examined the relationship between three major constructs of TPB as well as social support and the intention of healthy dietary behaviors in adults residing in Beijing, China using the extended TPB. Methods: The study questionnaire was based on previously validated items and an online survey was conducted from October to November 2020. Using a total of 244 Chinese adults in Beijing, multiple linear regression analysis was used to test the relationships between three major constructs of TPB as well as the social support and intention of healthy eating. Results: Among the three major constructs of TPB, subjective norms (p = 0.044) and PBC (p = 0.000) were significantly related to the behavioral intention of healthy eating (p = 0.000), and the model explained 76.6% of the variance of the behavioral intention from the three constructs of TPB included in the multiple linear regression model. The additional inclusion of social support to the model did not increase the explanatory power of the model to describe the behavioral intention of healthy eating. The subjective norms (p = 0.040) and PBC (p = 0.000) were still significant where social support did not explain the variance of the behavioral intention adequately. Conclusion: The subjective norms and PBC may be potential determinants of the behavioral intention of healthy eating in adults residing in Beijing, China. These study results can be used to promote healthy eating in Chinese adults living in urban areas. Large-scale intervention studies will be needed to determine if social norms and PBC predict the actual behaviors of healthy eating in Chinese adults.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.188-199
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between 3 major constructs of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), i.e., attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control (PBC) and past experience of healthy eating and intentions of healthy eating in the short-term and long-term in adults living in Shanghai and parts of Anhui Province, China. Methods: The online study questionnaire for this cross-sectional study was based on previously validated items. A total of 408 Chinese adults (aged 18-64 years) residing in Shanghai and parts of Anhui Province, China were included to examine relationships between 3 major constructs of TPB and past experience of healthy eating, and short-term and long-term intentions of healthy eating. Multiple linear regression model adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI) was employed to test relationships. Results: Only PBC among 3 major constructs of TPB was significantly related to short-term (p < 0.001) and long-term (p = 0.002) intention of healthy eating after adjustment for age and BMI. Past experience of healthy eating was more significantly related to long-term intention (p < 0.001) compared to short-term (p = 0.020) intention of healthy eating. The short-term and long-term intention models explained 70.5% and 48.8% of the variance, respectively. Conclusion: PBC is a potential determinant of both short-term and long-term behavioral intention of healthy eating regardless of past experience of healthy eating in adults residing in Shanghai and parts of Anhui Province, China. Our results indicate that programs promoting healthy eating to Chinese adults incorporate PCB to perform healthy eating under his or her control.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.483-496
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• 2020

This study examined the effects of eating alone, meal type, and dietary lifestyles on healthy eating capability of one-person households. We analyzed the mediation effects of weekly frequencies of each meal type taken by one-person households between eating habits such as eating alone and dietary lifestyles of one-person households and healthy eating capability. We also analyzed data from the 2019 Food Consumption Behavior Survey using a sample of 688 one-person households. Factor analysis, latent profile analysis, structural equation model analysis was conducted; direct and indirect effects of independent variables were tested using bootstrap method. The major results were as follows. Frequency of eating alone was about 10 times a week on average; one-person households had home-made meals about 12 times a week, for restaurant meals, 4 times, for delivered/take-out food, 0.39 times, and for other types, 0.44 times. Weekly frequencies of eating alone and meal types taken by one-person households were significantly different among the different socio-demographic groups. Dietary lifestyle was classified into four classes: traditional, health ignorant, food lifestyle ignorant, and balanced. Eating alone and dietary lifestyle had a significant effect on weekly frequency of each meal type. Frequencies of eating alone, balanced dietary lifestyle, and taking home-made meals had a positive direct effect on healthy eating capability, and frequency of taking delivered or take-out food and food consumption ignorant lifestyle had a negative direct effect. Eating alone, balanced and traditional dietary lifestyles had a positive indirect effect through the meal type; however, watching Mug-bang had a negative indirect effect.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.511-516
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine contribution of meal frequency, self-efficacy for healthy eating, and availability of healthy foods towards diet quality of adolescents in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study was conducted among 373 adolescents aged from 13 to 16 years old. Diet quality of the respondents was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index for Malaysians. Meal frequency, self-efficacy for healthy eating, and availability of healthy foods were assessed through the Eating Behaviours Questionnaire (EBQ), self-efficacy for healthy eating scale, and availability of healthy foods scale, respectively. RESULTS: The majority of the respondents (80.7%) were at risk of poor diet quality. Males ($mean=34.2{\pm}8.2%$) had poorer diet quality than females ($mean=39.9{\pm}9.0%$) (t = -5.941, P < 0.05). Malay respondents ($mean=36.9{\pm}8.7%$) had poorer diet quality than Indian respondents ($mean=41.3{\pm}10.0%$) (F = 2.762, P < 0.05). Age (r = 0.123, P < 0.05), self-efficacy for healthy eating (r = 0.129, P < 0.05), and availability of healthy foods (r = 0.159, P < 0.05) were positively correlated with the diet quality of the respondents. However, meal frequency was not correlated with the diet quality of the respondents. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that being a male, being a Malay, low self-efficacy for healthy eating, and low availability of healthy foods contributed significantly towards poor diet quality among respondents. CONCLUSIONS: In short, sex, ethnicity, self-efficacy for healthy eating, and availability of healthy foods were associated with diet quality among adolescents. Health practitioners should take into consideration of differences in sex and ethnicity during implementation of nutrition-related intervention programs. Self-efficacy for healthy eating and availability of healthy foods should be included as important components in improving diet quality of adolescents.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.497-511
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a school-centered healthy eating environment for children in elementary care classrooms and prevent incorrect eating habits and obesity through the development and application of standardized healthy eating habit-forming educational materials. Methods: Ten schools in eight districts of Gyeonggi-do and 400 students from 19 care classes were selected. Based on the developed educational materials, the program was applied to students once in two weeks. 'Notices for Parents' forms were also sent to the students' home to educate their parents. Pre and post-surveys were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the education. The pre-education, education, and aftercare were conducted from September 28 to September 31, 2016, from October 3 to November 30, 2016, and from December 5 to December 9, 2016, respectively. Results: The healthy eating program for elementary care classes was designed to develop a school-centered healthy eating environment and provide standardized educational material for healthy eating habits. Twelve educational topics were developed: , , , , , , , , , , , and . Moreover, the materials were produced in four forms: for students, for after school caring teachers, for external specialists, and for parents. The effectiveness evaluation was conducted to confirm the application of the program. The average eating habits score was 3.3 ± 0.6, with no significant difference between before and after application. The score of overall satisfaction of the education was 3.9 ± 0.9. The most satisfying content was 'Did you get to know how to eat evenly?'. Significant increases were observed in two contents for parents regarding their children's knowledge changes after the education: 'Five nutrients needed for growing children' and 'Knowing sugar foods and sugar-containing foods'. On the other hand, their educational satisfaction was 3.6 ± 0.6, which was lower than the children's satisfaction. This might be because their education was conducted only through the 'Notices for Parents' form. Conclusions: In the long term, the healthy eating habit-formation education for lower elementary school children is expected to be beneficial. To prevent obesity and establish healthy eating habits of children, it is important to develop healthy eating education programs centered on elementary school aftercare classes, including the development of educational materials and an application system through connection with the home and community.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.399-406
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate eating habits, healthy eating behaviors, food preference etc. of university students for them to enjoy delightful and healthy campus life and offer preliminary data to the related educational facilities and households for them to make use of the data for making out a menu. We conducted survey aiming at 4-year-course students in Jeonbuk area and survey period was from May 6th of 2013 to May 24th of 2013. The result are as followings. First, food habit evaluation with 10 questions shows that they are inclined to have refreshments, water, vegetables, fruits, grains and protein food often and also eat food blandly. So, we consider this finding is generally positive. Second, through the research on their healthy eating behaviors, we learned their interests in healthy food is average and their selection criteria for healthy food is nutrition value. Information sources for healthy food are mainly TV or mass media and good healthy food in their opinion is Korean food. Third, the findings of food preference show university students like the white rice most but don't like the rice with beans most in terms of rice type. We also found their favorite food is fried rice, favorite noodle is spaghetti, favorite soups are thick beef soups, favorite broth is potato and pork rib broth, favorite stew is kimchi stew, favorite steamed dish is braised short ribs and favorite meat is pork.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.337-349
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between eating behaviour and healthy dietary competency of single and multi-person households, to improve healthy eating behavior. Methods: This study was conducted on 6,355 adult household members who participated in the Food Consumption Behavior Survey 2020. The subjects were divided into age groups comprising young people in their 20s and 30s, middle-aged people in their 40s and 50s, and the elderly in their 60s and above. The eating behavior and healthy dietary competency of single-person and multi-person households were then analyzed. Results: The average age of the members in the single-person households was found to be higher. Single-person households were also found to have a lower marriage rate and lower monthly household income than multi-person households across the age groups of young, middle-aged, and elderly people (P < 0.05). Among each of the age groups, single-person households had significantly higher rates of skipping breakfast and eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner alone than multi-person households (P < 0.05). Young single-person households had lower average scores on healthy dietary competency than multi-person households (P = 0.032). When adjusted for age, gender, marriage, education, occupation, and household income, single-person households had a higher risk of delivery/take-out, eating out, or skipping meals compared to multi-person households (P < 0.05). In multi-person households, the risk of skipping meals, eating alone, eating out, or delivery/take-out decreased as healthy dietary competency improved (P < 0.05). On the other hand, in single-person households, as healthy dietary competency increased, the risk of delivery/take-out or eating alone decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that healthy dietary competency and eating practices can be improved by providing customized dietary education by age group for single and multi-person households.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1115-1125
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• 2010

This study investigated how Korean food is perceived within a healthy diet and what kinds of eating habits Korean people have. A Focus Group Interview (FGI) was conducted with participants who were experts on diet. Data were categorized into five groups using content analysis. categories were as follows: 1) Korean food and health assessment, 2) opinion on Koreans' current eating habits, 3) characteristics of Korean food, 4) comparison of Korean food in the past and present, 5) a plan for healthy diet. Results showed that a healthy diet should not only include a lot of vegetables, simple and unprocessed food as well as less spicy food, but that it should also be well-balanced nutritionally.