This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire assessing the nutrition knowledge (NK) of Italian adult women regarding the relationship between diet, lifestyle and bone health.

A thirty-item questionnaire in Italian was developed by experts based on a literature review. Participants completed the questionnaire twice, with a 2–4 week gap between the two administrations. During the initial administration, weight and height were recorded using a mechanical scale and a stadiometer, while bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L1-L4), femoral neck and total femur were assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases at the Parma University Hospital, from January 2022 to June 2024.

Women aged 45–75 years old, native Italian speakers, undergoing DXA at the Centre participated.

The sample included 295 women with a median age of 63 years (interquartile range 11·5). The questionnaire demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0·698) and high temporal stability (R = 0·810, P = 0·002), effectively differentiating between individuals with and without a nutritional background. Regression analysis indicated negative associations between NK score and age (β1 = –0·130, P < 0·001) and BMI (β1 = –0·193, P < 0·001).

The NutriBone questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating NK related to bone health in Italian adult women undergoing DXA, with potential for future research applications.

We aimed to analyse the effects of nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) interventions on nutrition, examine the pathways within a project cycle and explore the pathways 3 years after the end of the funding period.

We employed a sequential mixed-methods design using (1) secondary quantitative data and (2) primary qualitative data. The quantitative data were analysed using the Mann–Whitney test, independent sample t test and binary logistic regression. The qualitative data were analysed thematically.

This research used the case of the Integrated Agriculture and Health Based Interventions project.

The quantitative data comprised 4825 households. The qualitative data included forty-six participants (twenty-eight beneficiaries and eighteen implementers) from two focus group discussions (n 15) and thirty-one semi-structured interviews.

NSA interventions reduced child underweight and improved household and women’s dietary diversity scores, breastfeeding practices, handwashing and access to Fe–folic acid during pregnancy. Pregnant and lactating women’s minimum dietary diversity increased, while children’s minimum dietary diversity reduced. Key pathways to nutrition during project implementation were food production, nutrition-related knowledge and strengthening local institutions. Sustainability of knowledge was mostly evident, followed by food production, while the strengthening of local institutions was less evident.

Key pathways to outcomes during the project implementation were food production, nutrition-related knowledge and strengthening local institutions, as these were the main focus of the project. Income and women’s empowerment pathways could be more effective if intentionally integrated. We reiterate the need to enhance children’s dietary diversity, strengthen income–expenditure and women empowerment pathways, sustain livestock production and strengthen local institutions.

Drinks containing added sugar and/or non-nutritive sweeteners are not recommended for children under 6 years. Yet, most young children consume these products. The current study examined factors associated with caregivers’ provision of sweetened drinks to their young child.

Caregivers reported frequency of providing sweetened fruit-flavoured drinks (fruit drinks and flavoured water) and unsweetened juices (100 % juice and juice/water blends) to their 1- to 5-year-old child in the past month and perceived importance of product attributes (healthfulness, product claims and other characteristics), other drinks provided, reading the nutrition facts panel and socio-demographic characteristics. A partial proportional odds model measured the relationship between these factors and frequency of providing sweetened fruit-flavoured drinks.

Online cross-sectional survey.

U.S. caregivers (n 1763) with a young child (ages 1–5).

The majority (74 %) of caregivers provided sweetened fruit-flavoured drinks to their child in the past month; 26 % provided them daily. Provision frequency was positively associated with some drink attributes, including perceived healthfulness, vitamin C claims and box/pouch packaging; child requests and serving other sweetened drinks and juice/water blends. Provision frequency was negatively associated with perceived importance of ‘no/less sugar’ and ‘all natural’ claims. Reading nutrition facts panels, serving water to their child and child’s age were not significant.

Misunderstanding of product healthfulness and other marketing attributes contribute to frequent provision of sweetened drinks to young children. Public health efforts to address common misperceptions, including counter marketing, may raise awareness among caregivers about the harms of providing sweetened drinks to young children.

To investigate whether an after-school nutrition education (ASNE) programme can improve the nutrition knowledge and healthy eating behaviour of adolescents from economically disadvantaged families.

One-group pretest and posttest design. Nutrition knowledge and dietary intake were collected using a questionnaire, and anthropometric measurements were measured before and after the intervention. Nine components of healthy eating behaviour were assessed with reference to the Dietary Guideline of Taiwan. Pretest and posttest differences were analysed using generalised estimating equations.

Three after-school programmes in central and southern Taiwan. The ASNE programme comprised three monthly 1-h sessions (20–30-min lecture and 30–40-min interaction).

A total of 153 adolescents aged 10–15 years from economically disadvantaged families (seventy-eight elementary students and seventy-five junior high school students).

Elementary and junior high school students’ nutrition knowledge scores (range 0–6) increased by 0·28 (+ 5·7 %, P = 0·02) and 0·30 points (+ 6·18 %, P = 0·02), respectively, but their fruit intake decreased by 0·36 serving/d (–22·9 %, P = 0·02) and 0·29 serving/d (–18·9 %, P = 0·03), respectively. Junior high school students’ mean snacking frequency and fried food intake dropped to 0·75 d/week (–21·3 %, P = 0·008) and 0·10 serving/d (–28·8 %, P = 0·01), respectively.

Short-term ASNE programmes can increase nutrition knowledge and reduce snacking frequency and fried food intake despite a decrease in fruit intake among adolescents from economically disadvantaged families.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the number of hours of nutrition education and teachers’ qualifications with nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviour in students.

In this representative cross-sectional study, socio-demographic data, anthropometric measurements, socio-economic status (SES), physical fitness, nutrition knowledge and eating habits were assessed. Differences between groups were tested by χ2 and t tests. Multiple linear and logistic regression modelling was used to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics, lifestyle and dietary behaviours, nutrition knowledge, nutrition-trained teachers and number of nutrition lessons.

Sixteen secondary schools in urban (n 6) and rural regions (n 10) of Tyrol, Western Austria.

Students (n 513) aged 14·2 (sd 0·7) years.

Higher nutrition knowledge was significantly associated with attending rural school (P = 0·001), having no migration background (P < 0·001), (very) good physical activity behaviour (P = 0·040), non-trained teacher (P = 0·006) but higher number of hours of nutrition education (P = 0·013). Regression models showed that higher nutrition knowledge was independently associated with lower intake of meat and iced tea and higher intake of vegetables and plant-based oils. A higher amount of nutrition education (h/week) was significantly associated with higher intake of dark (wholegrain) bread, lower intake of meat and of energy drinks sweetened with sweeteners.

Our results suggest that more hours in nutrition education result in higher nutrition knowledge and greater nutrition literacy, which may lead to health-promoting dietary habits. School-based nutrition education can be seen as preventive measure to increase nutritional competences in adolescents independent of their SES.

The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of a self-administered nutrition knowledge (NK) questionnaire for Italian university students.

The NK questionnaire included ninety questions on experts’ nutritional recommendations, nutritional content of food, health aspects of food and diets, relationship between diet and diseases, and proper food choices. It was administered to the same population under the same conditions on two different occasions with a time interval of 3 weeks between the two administrations.

The survey was carried out at the University of Parma (Italy) during the 2018–2019 academic year.

Data were collected for 132 bachelor and master degree students attending the University of Parma, either attending or not nutrition classes during their studies (19–30 years, 29·5 % males, 57·6 % with an academic nutrition background).

The questionnaire revealed high overall internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s α > 0·8) and a good temporal stability with high correlation of the total score (r = 0·835, P < 0·001). Moreover, it showed a good ability to discriminate between subjects with potentially different NK.

This NK questionnaire proved to be a reliable, valid and easy-to-use tool for assessing the NK of Italian university students, either with or without nutrition background.

To examine the relationship between knowledge and beverage consumption habits among children.

Cross-sectional analysis. Linear regression was used to identify sociodemographic, dietary and behavioural determinants of beverage consumption and knowledge, and to describe the relationships between children’s knowledge and water and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption.

Seventeen elementary schools in London, Ontario, Canada.

A total of 1049 children aged 8–14 years.

Knowledge scores were low overall. Children with higher knowledge scores consumed significantly fewer SSB (β = −0·33; 95 % CI −0·49, −0·18; P < 0·0001) and significantly more water (β = 0·34; 95 % CI 0·16, 0·52; P = 0·0002). More frequent refillable water bottle use, lower junk food consumption, lower fruit and vegetable consumption, female sex, higher parental education, two-parent households and not participating in a milk programme were associated with a higher water consumption. Male sex, higher junk food consumption, single-parent households, lower parental education, participating in a milk programme, less frequent refillable water bottle use and permission to leave school grounds at lunchtime were associated with a higher SSB consumption. Water was the most frequently consumed beverage; however, 79 % of respondents reported consuming an SSB at least once daily and 50 % reported consuming an SSB three or more times daily.

Elementary-school children have relatively low nutrition and water knowledge and consume high proportions of SSB. Higher knowledge is associated with increased water consumption and reduced SSB consumption. Interventions to increase knowledge may be effective at improving children’s beverage consumption habits.

Breakfast skipping is regarded as a public health issue among adults worldwide. Nutrition knowledge has been reported to be one of predictors of dietary behaviour. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the association between nutrition knowledge and breakfast skipping.

Data regarding nutrition knowledge were obtained by using a validated, self-administered general nutrition knowledge questionnaire for Japanese adults (JGNKQ). Participants were classified into three nutrition knowledge level groups according to total JGNKQ score: Low, Middle and High. In addition, participants reported the frequency of meal consumption per week and rated the difficulty in finding time to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in the lifestyle questionnaire. The differences in frequency of breakfast, lunch and dinner consumption among Low, Middle and High nutrition knowledge groups were determined by using ANCOVA adjusted for potential confounding factors.

Kanto region, Japan.

Japanese adults aged 18–64 years (n 1165, 57·3% women).

Mean age of the participants was 43·8 (sd 8·9) years. There were no significant differences found in the proportion of respondents reporting difficulty in finding time to eat each meal among the three groups. However, the frequency of breakfast consumption was significantly different among Low, Middle and High groups, while lunch and dinner frequency did not differ among the three groups.

The present study suggests that nutrition knowledge level is related to breakfast skipping among Japanese adults.

To outline key statistical considerations and detailed methodologies for the development and evaluation of a valid and reliable nutrition knowledge questionnaire.

Literature on questionnaire development in a range of fields was reviewed and a set of evidence-based guidelines specific to the creation of a nutrition knowledge questionnaire have been developed. The recommendations describe key qualitative methods and statistical considerations, and include relevant examples from previous papers and existing nutrition knowledge questionnaires. Where details have been omitted for the sake of brevity, the reader has been directed to suitable references.

We recommend an eight-step methodology for nutrition knowledge questionnaire development as follows: (i) definition of the construct and development of a test plan; (ii) generation of the item pool; (iii) choice of the scoring system and response format; (iv) assessment of content validity; (v) assessment of face validity; (vi) purification of the scale using item analysis, including item characteristics, difficulty and discrimination; (vii) evaluation of the scale including its factor structure and internal reliability, or Rasch analysis, including assessment of dimensionality and internal reliability; and (viii) gathering of data to re-examine the questionnaire’s properties, assess temporal stability and confirm construct validity. Several of these methods have previously been overlooked.

The measurement of nutrition knowledge is an important consideration for individuals working in the nutrition field. Improved methods in the development of nutrition knowledge questionnaires, such as the use of factor analysis or Rasch analysis, will enable more confidence in reported measures of nutrition knowledge.

The present study aimed to develop and validate a nutrition knowledge questionnaire in a sample of French Canadians from the province of Quebec, taking into account dietary guidelines.

A thirty-eight-item questionnaire was developed by the research team and evaluated for content validity by an expert panel, and then administered to respondents. Face validity and construct validity were measured in a pre-test. Exploratory factor analysis and covariance structure analysis were performed to verify the structure of the questionnaire and identify problematic items. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were evaluated through a validation study.

Online survey.

Six nutrition and psychology experts, fifteen registered dietitians (RD) and 180 lay people participated.

Content validity evaluation resulted in the removal of two items and reformulation of one item. Following face validity, one item was reformulated. Construct validity was found to be adequate, with higher scores for RD v. non-RD (21·5 (sd 2·1) v. 15·7 (sd 3·0) out of 24, P<0·001). Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the questionnaire contained only one factor. Covariance structure analysis led to removal of sixteen items. Internal consistency for the overall questionnaire was adequate (Cronbach’s α=0·73). Assessment of test–retest reliability resulted in significant associations for the total knowledge score (r=0·59, P<0·001).

This nutrition knowledge questionnaire was found to be a suitable instrument which can be used to measure levels of nutrition knowledge in a Canadian population. It could also serve as a model for the development of similar instruments in other populations.

According to the US Affordable Care Act, restaurant chains are required to provide energy (calorie) and other nutrition information on their menu. The current study examined the impact of menu labelling containing calorie information and recommended daily calorie intake, along with subjective nutrition knowledge, on intention to select lower-calorie foods prior to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Full factorial experimental design with participants exposed to four variants of a sample menu in a 2 (presence v. absence of calorie information) ×2 (presence v. absence of recommended daily calorie intake).

Large, public university in the Southwest USA.

Primarily undergraduate college students.

Majority of participants were 19–23 years of age (mean 21·8 (sd 3·6) years). Menu information about calorie content and respondents’ subjective nutrition knowledge had a significantly positive impact on students’ intention to select lower-calorie foods (β=0·24, P<0·001 and β=0·33, P<0·001, respectively); however, recommended daily calorie intake information on the menu board did not influence students’ intention to select lower-calorie foods (β=0·10, P=0·105). Gender played a significant role on purchase intent for lower-calorie menu items, with females more affected by the calorie information than males (β=0·37, P<0·001).

Findings support the role menu labelling can play in encouraging a healthier lifestyle for college students. College students who are Generation Y desire healthier menu options and accept nutritional labels on restaurant menus as a way to easily and expediently obtain nutrition information.