Knowledge of calories and its influencing factors

Evidence from a fast-growing developing country

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21296038
AutoresYong Kang Cheah (0000-0002-6793-7055, Northern University of Malaysia), Lim Kuang Kuay (0000-0002-5162-3983, Institute for Medical Research), Hasimah Ismail, Ruhaya Salleh (0000-0001-6418-840X, Universiti Teknologi MARA System), Chee Cheong Kee (0000-0003-1372-9549, National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia), Kuang Hock Lim (0000-0001-9364-2536, Institute for Medical Research)
Ano2023
Volume125
Fascículo4
Páginas1300-1316
Data de publicação2023-03-21
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoBritish Food Journal (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0007-070X • E-ISSN: 1758-4108
EditoraEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/bfj-01-2022-0002
OpenAlexW4284712792
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas35

Purpose This study examines sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with knowledge of calories. Design/methodology/approach Data were analysed from the Komuniti Sihat Pembina Negara (KOSPEN) 2016. Logistic regressions were used to examine the effects of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors on knowledge of the definition of calories, recommended caloric intake and the effect of calories on body weight. Findings The results revealed that large proportions of respondents did not know the definition of calories (51.33%), recommended caloric intake (95.50%) and the effect of calories on body weight (64.89%). The proportions of respondents having knowledge of calories varied by income, gender, ethnicity, educational level, marital status, employment status, urbanization of states, smoking status and awareness of body mass index (BMI). Respondents were less likely to have knowledge of calories if they were low-income earners, non-Malays, less-educated, unemployed, smokers and unaware of their BMI. Practical implications Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors play an important role in affecting knowledge of calories. Policymakers should make a concerted effort to improve knowledge of calories among adults with different sociodemographic backgrounds and lifestyle profiles. Originality/value This study provides several contributions to the literature: (1) The country of interest is Malaysia, where the prevalence of obesity is high and studies related to knowledge of calories are lacking. (2) In addition to knowledge of recommended caloric intake, knowledge of the definition of calories and the effect of calories on body weight factors are considered. (3) Apart from sociodemographic variables, smoking behaviour and awareness of BMI variables are included in the analyses

Body mass index · Calorie · Environmental health · Ethnic group · Marital status · Obesity · Population · Sociology · Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling · Demography · Medicine · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Gerontology