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. 2024 Jun 6;16(6):e61824.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.61824. eCollection 2024 Jun.

A Survey on the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Students at Jazan University Regarding Calorie Menu Labeling in Restaurants and a Literature Review

Abdulaziz A Arishi  1 , Nawaf Bakri  2 , Abdulaziz Kariri  2 , Naif Mahzara  2 , Faisal Mahzari  2 , Faisal Zaybi  2 , Abdullah Alatiyyah  2 , Abdulrahman Hadadi  2 , Esaam Moafa  2 , Hafiz I Al-Musawa  2 , Hassan N Mashbari  1 , Ibrahim A Hakami  1 , Abdulaziz Alhazmi  3
Affiliations

A Survey on the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Students at Jazan University Regarding Calorie Menu Labeling in Restaurants and a Literature Review

Abdulaziz A Arishi et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background: The global rise in obesity and related health complications has cast a spotlight on the urgent need for initiatives that promote informed dietary decisions. This cross-sectional study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of university students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, regarding menu calorie labeling. The study examines how these variables may affect dietary decisions, body mass index (BMI), and support for proposed legislative measures requiring calorie disclosure on restaurant menus.

Methods: The study included 581 Saudi university students who were 18 years of age or older as a convenience sample. A three-part questionnaire that asked about demographics, anthropometric measurements, and attitudes and behaviors related to calorie counting was completed by the participants. Using the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 25.0; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY) program, chi-square, t-tests, and ANOVA tests were used to evaluate the data. Both informed consent and ethical approval were obtained.

Results: The study finds that, even while more than half of the participants knew their recommended daily calorie intake and exhibited curiosity about calorie information on menus, this knowledge did not always result in healthy eating habits. Participants' opinions and behaviors regarding calorie labeling were significantly correlated with their BMI levels, indicating the importance of education in promoting nutritional awareness and healthy eating habits. New calorie labeling regulations received higher approval from people who regularly ate out.

Conclusion: This study emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive nutritional education initiatives to raise calorie knowledge and encourage Saudi Arabian university students to make healthier eating choices. It also emphasizes the possible effects of legislative measures requiring calorie information on menus, particularly among regular diners. However, while evaluating the results, it is important to take into account the study's limitations, including self-reported data and convenience sample. To support menu calorie labeling legislation and inform targeted public health interventions for university students' eating behaviors, more research that takes cultural quirks and regional settings into account is necessary.

Keywords: body mass index (bmi); calorie labeling; dietary decisions; jazan university; public health; saudi arabian.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Standing Committee for Scientific Research - Jazan University (HAPO-10-Z-001) issued approval REC-44/04/370. On 15 November 2022. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Education level in college.
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