Associations between nutrition knowledge and obesity-related attitudes and physical activity among young adults from Kenya, South Africa, and the United Kingdom

• DOI: 10.1080/16070658.2023.2198844
• Publication Date: 2023-07-13T12:41:26Z
• Authors: Siphiwe N Dlamini; Asanda Mtintsilana; Witness Mapanga; Ashleigh Craig; Shane A Norris
• Keywords: Worry; Odds; Ordered logit; Cross-sectional study

Objective: This study's aim was to test associations between nutrition knowledge and obesity-related attitudes physical activity (PA) among 3000 18–35-year-old men women from Kenya, South Africa (SA), the United Kingdom (UK).Methods: A cross-sectional online survey conducted in April 2022. To estimate knowledge, dietary recommendation score computed using standard General Nutrition Knowledge questionnaire. Obesity-related were British Social Attitudes Survey. Self-reported days of vigorous moderate PAs walking used. Ordinal logistic regression employed all associations, while adjusting for age group, gender a household asset score. Using simple mediation, testing also done ascertain whether mediated PA.Results: Consistently, better associated with disagreeing that 'There is no reason worry about obesity' (ORs ≥ 1.09), but lower odds being against 'Providing free weight management courses' 'Creating/improving cycle paths pavements encourage PA' ≤ 0.90). Better higher PA SA (OR = 1.04) 1.12) UK. In combined sample, fully by believing 'Obesity results not exercising enough' (11.1% mediated). Likewise, attitude towards 'Creating or improving UK (38.9% mediated).Conclusions: young adults, some relationships are country-specific. Interventions based on findings high-income countries should be evaluated before implemented low-resource settings.