The association between dietary fat knowledge and consumption of foods rich in fat among black first-year students in a South African university self-catering residences

Abstract

High fat consumption among university students is a matter of major concern. The objective of this study was to determine the association between dietary fat knowledge and consumption of foods rich in fat among first-year students in self-catering residences at a university of technology in Cape Town, South Africa. The dietary fat knowledge, represented by fat food knowledge and fat nutrition knowledge, and consumption of foods rich in fat were assessed separately. Two norm-referenced, valid and reliable knowledge tests and an intake screening questionnaire were used for the assessments, before the associations between the phenomena were determined (using the Pearson’s chi-square test). The stratified sample included 225 black students who provided written consent for participation. While no significant (p > 0,05) association was found between the students’ fat food knowledge and consumption of foods rich in fat, significant associations were found between the students’ fat nutrition knowledge and consumption of foods rich in fat (p < 0,05), and between their fat food knowledge and fat nutrition knowledge (p < 0,001). Therefore, in order to reduce students’ consumption of foods high in fat, food and nutrition education should place emphasis on fat nutrition knowledge and consider fat food knowledge.