Degree

Doctor of Nutrition and Food Sciences (PNFS)

Department

Nutrition and Food Science

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Food literacy is the interrelated knowledge, skills and behaviors needed to plan and manage, select, prepare, and eat healthy food. It is positively associated with improved consumption of nutritious diets, and can be beneficial to limited-resource adults, who are often at risk for chronic diet-related diseases. Valid instruments for measuring food literacy in this population are scarce but urgently needed. The Eating and Food Literacy Behavior Questionnaire (EFLBQ) can be used to measure food literacy among limited-resource audiences.

Part one of this study aimed to determine the fitness of the EFLBQ to measure food literacy in limited-resource adults. A convenience sample of 290 limited-resourced adults in Southeast Louisiana were recruited from Head Start sites, food pantries and community centers to complete the EFLBQ. Demographics, weight and height, fruit and vegetable consumption were added to the survey. Results were analyzed for descriptives, correlations, fruit and vegetable consumption, and intakes. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was done to determine fitness of EFLBQ. In part two, limited-resource adult participants (n=13) in a 4-session nutrition program completed the EFLBQ pre- and post-program to determine program effects on EFLBQ factors. A control group (n=10) was included in the study. Change in mean factor scores from pre- to post-program in both treatment and control groups was determined using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Mann-Whitney U tests assessed mean scores change between groups pre- to post test.

Most participants were female and African American, the mean age of the group was 33.5±8.7 years, and their mean Body Mass Index was 30±7.6 kg/m2. Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed that the EFLBQ model was an adequate fit for the observed data, based on comparison with standard fit indices: Chi-squared, χ2 = 338.89 at 142 degrees of freedom, RMSEA= 0.078, SRMR= 0.057, CFI= 0.888, TLI= 0.856. There were no significant changes in mean factor scores within and between groups (treatment and control) from pre- to post- program.

The EFLBQ is a valid instrument to be used in evaluating and monitoring food literacy intervention programs for limited-resource adults. The nutrition program might need culturally appropriate approaches to improve food literacy and eating behavior factors in participants.

Date

5-17-2023

Committee Chair

Briley, Chiquita

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.6161

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Nutrition Commons

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