The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics 2023 , Vol 65 , Num 2
Food and nutrition literacy: a predictor for diet quality and nutrient density among late adolescents
Marziyeh Ashoori 1 ,Sepideh Soltani 2 ,Cain C. T. Clark 3 ,Hassan Eini-Zinab 4 ,Elham Shakibazadeh 5 ,Azam Doustmohamadian 6 ,Behnaz Abdar-Esfahani 4 ,Mohammad Mazandaranian 4 ,Nasrin Omidvar 4
1 Student Research Committee, Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute; and Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Yazd Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
3 Faculty Research Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
4 Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute; and Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5 Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
6 Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
DOI : 10.24953/turkjped.2022.607 Background. Evidence regarding an individual`s food and nutrition literacy (FNL), and its impact on dietary behaviours, could guide the development of more effective interventions. This study sought to examine the association between FNL and its components with diet quality and nutrient density among Iranian senior highschool students.

Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 755 senior high school students were recruited from high schools in Tehran, Iran. FNL was assessed using the Food and Nutrition Literacy Assessment Tool (FNLAT), a selfadministered questionnaire which has been locally designed and validated. Dietary assessment was performed by obtaining two 24-hour dietary recalls. Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) and nutrient-rich food index 9.3 (NRF9.3) were calculated to evaluate diet quality. Socioeconomic status, anthropometric measures, and the health status of participants were also assessed.

Results. Higher FNL score was significantly correlated with higher HEI-2010 (β = 0.167, p < 0.001) and NRF9.3 (β = 0.145, p < 0.001) scores. Subgroup analysis indicated that these associations were significant only among males, but not females. Regarding components of FNL, skill dimension of FNL was a stronger predictor for HEI- 2010 (β = 0.174, p < 0.001) and NRF9.3 (β = 0.153, p < 0.001) than knowledge (β = 0.083, p = 0.054 for HEI-2010 and β = 0.107, p = 0.01 for NRF9.3).

Conclusions. FNL may be a significant predictor of diet quality and nutrient density among late adolescents. To improve the effectiveness of food and nutrition education, emphasis must be placed on skill development. Keywords : adolescents, diet quality, food literacy, nutrient density, nutrition literacy

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