The relationship between healthy eating attitudes and nutritional knowledge among young consumers

Abstract

South Africa faces an obesity challenge. Given these high obesity levels and nutritional challenges there is need to ascertain the link between consumer attitudes and knowledge of nutrition since they influence eating behaviour. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between consumer attitudes and nutritional knowledge among a sample of young people residing in rural areas (n=150) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure attitudes towards healthy eating and their nutritional knowledge. Established measures were used for healthy eating attitudes, nutritional knoweldge and attitudes towards nutrition. The results revealed that positive and negative attitudes towards healthy eating existed amongst the participating young people. Further, findings showed young people’s attitude towards healthy eating to be related to nutrition knowledge acquisition. Recommendations are made based on these findings.