Factors affecting on perception and knowledge of portion size in young adults
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 9 December 2020
Issue publication date: 4 August 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the perception and knowledge of standard food/meal portion size and related factors in young adults.
Design/methodology/approach
The present study was conducted on 1,000 volunteer young adults, consisting of 504 men and 496 women (18 and 28 years). The portion size of food/meal, amount of food measuring utensils and also nutritional knowledge were evaluated via a questionnaire and some visual materials.
Findings
Knowledge of portion sizes, amount of food each utensil holds and nutrition was evaluated via a questionnaire and some visual materials. Knowledge of portion size with respect to food groups (p = 0.015), meals (p < 0.001) and food measuring utensils (p = 0.002) and nutritional knowledge scores (p = 0.011) differed based on body mass indexes (BMI). Women had on mean a higher nutritional knowledge score than men (2.0 ± 1.3, 1.9 ± 1.1 points, respectively). The probability of having knowledge about food measuring utensils was 1.4-fold greater for individuals who had been previously educated about nutrition (p = 0.034). Individuals of the faculty of health sciences had higher mean scores for all portion scores (p < 0.05).
Originality/value
The study findings highlighted that portion knowledge and perception of young adults were affected by gender, BMI, enrolled faculty and nutritional knowledge status. This is the first study, through which the portion knowledge and perception subcomponents (food, meal and measuring utensils) are evaluated, indicating each subcomponent to be affected by distinct factors.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author thank all the participants who devoted their time to participate in this study. They are warmly acknowledged for their helpful and wholehearted cooperation.
Funding: None.
Conflict of interest: Author declares no conflict of interest.
Citation
Gezmen Karadağ, M., Ağagündüz, D., Yıldıran, H., Arslan, S. and Toka, O. (2021), "Factors affecting on perception and knowledge of portion size in young adults", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 51 No. 6, pp. 947-958. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-10-2020-0391
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited