Understanding the Relationship Between Nutrition Knowledge and Factors Influencing Food Choices: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrition knowledge plays an important role in addressing the prevalence of nutrition-related diseases among college students. Along with nutrition knowledge levels, there are a variety of factors that shape how college students make their food choices each day. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between nutrition knowledge and factors influencing food choices among 267 college students at Liberty University. College students are a vital target population as their newfound autonomy can shape dietary habits long-term. Nutrition knowledge levels and food choice factors of Liberty University undergraduate students were evaluated using an electronic questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed using the validated General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire and the validated Food Choice Questionnaire. Results indicated that students had a mean nutrition knowledge score of 0.65 (SD = 0.17), which strongly correlated with health as a food choice factor. Additionally, nutrition knowledge levels significantly predicted health and natural content food choice factors among college students. The findings suggest that nutrition knowledge levels had a significant relationship with some of the food choice factors among college students. Therefore, implementing nutrition education programs that target these significant results could encourage positive dietary habits among college students.