Does Nutritional Knowledge Translate into Healthier Dietary Practices: Perceptions and Barriers to Healthy Eating among Indian Adults

Abstract

Adequate level of nutritional knowledge need not assure good dietary practices. Perceptions about the link between food and health as well as barriers in following healthy eating practices need to be examined to understand why people choose certain foods over others. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, perceptions and practices of adults regarding healthy eating. It is a cross-sectional, observational study where participants were selected purposively from a total of 23 housing colonies from four geographical zones (North, South, East, and West) of Delhi, India. A mixed methods approach was used to study the eating habits of 589 adults (20-40 years of age). A pretested questionnaire was used to gather information on knowledge, perceptions and practices regarding healthy eating. Twelve focus group discussions with 6-8 participants in each group were also conducted. The knowledge and practice scores had a weak positive relationship (p=0.181, p<0.01). Taste, emotional state of mind, social company and convenience influenced the food choices. Barriers such as lack of time to prepare meals, busy work schedules, not having skills to cook meals caused difficulty in following a healthy diet. Raising nutrition literacy levels cannot be the only focus of interventions to improve the quality of diet in a community. The barriers and enablers of a healthy diet need to be addressed in order to facilitate better food choices. A systematic ‘whole of society’ approach can be used to make a more conducive food environment.