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Introduction: Food choice plays a vital role in overall health as unhealthy diet is the main cause of diet related diseases. Nutrition label use (NLU) is a factor influencing food choices. Understanding NLU is essential to promote informed decision-making and improve public health. This study uses principal component analysis (PCA) to characterize the dietary patterns followed by Cypriot adulfs, it measures NLU and explores the relationship between dietary patterns with the use of nutrition labels and other focfors. Methods: Study of cross-sectional design with a nationally representative sample of 542 Cypriot adults (ages 1&90). Dietary patterns were derived by PCA using comprehensive dietary information collected through a validated food frequency questionnaire. The study also assesses the self- reported frequency and determinants of nutrition label use. investigating factors that may influence label use. Results: Findings revealed four dietary patterns within the Cypriot adult population explaining 35.8P of the variance in food intake; the Mediterranean-like dietary pofiern explaining the highest variance, the meot and fish, the unhealthy, and the easy-prepared dietary pattern. Results showed a prevalence of NLU of 6J.9P and indicated that higher use of nutrition labels is associated with female gender, postgraduate education, high physical activity, high level of nutrition knowledge, and high attitude towards a healthy diet. 3 The Mediterranean-like dietary pattern was associated with higher nutrition label use. Individuals reading the nutrition labels have higher adherence to the Mediterranean-like dietary pattern and the more items they read the more likely they ore to follow if. Higher adherence to the ivlediterranean-like dietary pattern was also associated with younger age, high physical activity, high nutrition knowledge and high attitude to healthy diet, and correlated positively with energy intake. The meat and fish dietary pattern was associated wifh male gender, younger age. and low education level, and was also positively correlated with energy intake as well as Body Mass Index (BMI). The unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with younger age. low education level and low attitude to healthy diet, and was also positively correlated with energy intake. The easy-prepared dietary pattern was associated with moderate attitude to healthy diet and correlated positively with energy intake. Discussion: The implications of the observed dietary pafterns and their potential impact on public health have emerged. The role of nutrition labels as tools for guiding food choices and their contribution fo the adoption of healthier diefary habits is highlighted. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of factors influencing dietary behaviors of Cypriot adults and can inform targeted interventions to promote healthier dietary patterns. Conclusion: This cross-sectional research has enlightened the composite interaction between dietary patterns and nutrition label use contributing to the existing knowledge in this area of Nutritional Epidemiology. By empowering persons with the skills necessary to interpret food labels effectively, we can facilitate the adoption of healthy dietary patterns which are also culturally and environmentally sustainable. Implementing interdisciplinary methods and advances in technology we can develop policies to address the multifaceted challenges of nutrition and public health in the 21stcentury.
Exploring dietary patterns and nutrition label use among adults in Cyprus: insights and associations. A cross- sectional study
- PhD thesis
- english
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- diet, mediterranean -- Cyprus
- Nutrition Education -- Cyprus