Nutr Res Pract.  2007 Sep;1(3):224-230.

Awareness and perceived necessity of dietary guidelines among urban Koreans by gender

• Hong KE
• Moon HK
• Cho SI
• Ahn BC
• Joung H

Abstract

We examined an urban population's awareness of dietary guidelines to determine whether they perceived them to be necessary, and identified the factors affecting this awareness and perceived necessity. Data were collected via physical examinations and face-to-face interviews. Health indicators were collected from health examinations, and information on individual characteristics, including awareness, perceived necessity, and dietary status were obtained from the interviews. The subjects' sociodemographic, health and dietary status were examined as potential factors influencing awareness and perceived necessity. Descriptive statistics, contingency tables, and logistic regression modeling were used in the analysis. Low awareness of the dietary guidelines was displayed by the elderly and poorly educated individuals, and those without a spouse. Most people who were not aware of the dietary guidelines thought the guidelines unnecessary. Males with hypertension and lower hemoglobin levels, and females with less education had low awareness. Elderly females with lower bone density had less perceived necessity. Males and females with poor dietary status reported low perceived necessity.

Keyword

Dietary guidelines; awareness; perceived necessity; logistic regression

MeSH Terms

Aged
Bone Density
Education
Female
Humans
Hypertension
Logistic Models
Male
Nutrition Policy*
Physical Examination
Spouses

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