Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviors Related to Eating Out among University Students in China

Ping Hu, Wenjie Huang, Ruixue Bai, Fan Zhang, Manoj Sharma, Zumin Shi, Xiaoqiu Xiao, Abu S. Abdullah and Yong Zhao
Additional contact information
Ping Hu: School of Public Health & Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Wenjie Huang: School of Public Health & Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Ruixue Bai: School of Public Health & Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Fan Zhang: School of Public Health & Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Manoj Sharma: Behavioral & Environmental Health, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39213, USA
Zumin Shi: Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia
Xiaoqiu Xiao: Laboratory of Lipid & Glucose Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 40016, China
Abu S. Abdullah: Global Health Program, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan 215347, China
Yong Zhao: School of Public Health & Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: In many countries the frequency of eating out has steadily increased over the last few decades, and this behavioris often associated with unhealthy dietary patterns. This study aimed to describe the levels of knowledge, attitude, and behaviors (KAB) related to eating out among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the college town in Chongqing, China with a total of 1634 participants. The mean eating out related KAB scores were: knowledge 11.5 ± 2.9, attitude 17.0 ± 2.8, and behaviors 24.2 ± 4.8 (possible total scores: 20, 24, 40 respectively). As the level of knowledge increased, the percentage of highly satisfactory attitude and behaviors increased. Only 10% of the participants did not eat out for lunch and dinner during weekends in the last month. Gender, ethnicity, mother’s education, monthly boarding expenses, living place during the study, and the frequency of eating out for breakfast were statistically associated with the scores of KAB. In conclusion, Chinese junior students had poor knowledge of and behaviors towards eating out and ate out frequently. Educational interventionsto improve knowledge related eating out are needed in order to promote healthy eating out behaviors among Chinese university students.

Keywords: eating out; knowledge; attitude; behaviors; university students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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