The power of nutrition education: exploring the link between e-healthy diet literacy and ultra-processed food intake among female university students

Purpose Today, the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is increasing, particularly among young adults, contributing to unhealthy dietary patterns. Digital nutrition literacy may be associated with food choices related to UPF consumption. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between e-healthy diet literacy and UPF consumption among university students and to explore whether this association differs between students enrolled in Nutrition and Dietetics programs and those studying in other departments. Design/methodology/approach The descriptive and cross-sectional study included 262 female university students. Participants' e-healthy diet literacy level was assessed using the E-healthy Diet Literacy Scale. At the same time, UPF consumption was evaluated using the Screening Questionnaire of Highly Processed Food Consumption. Findings Nutrition and dietetics students had a significantly lower UPF consumption score compared to students in other departments (5.5 ± 2.1 vs. 6.8 ± 2.3, p < 0.001). E-healthy diet literacy total and subscale scores (excluding the understanding score) were significantly higher in this group (p<0.001). Students with the lowest level of e-healthy diet literacy consumed more UPFs than those with the highest level of e-healthy diet literacy (p = 0.024). However, after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption and department of study, the significance disappeared (p = 0.592). Originality/value The findings suggest that formal nutrition education and educational context may be associated with higher e-healthy diet literacy and lower UPF consumption among university students. The study also highlights the possible contribution of educational environment to dietary behaviors related to UPF consumption.