Relationship between awareness and use of nutrition labels and obesity

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the association between awareness and use of nutrition labels and obesity among Koreans. Materials and Methods: A total of 16,911 participants aged ≥ 19 y (7,308 men and 9,603 women) were recruited. Data were extracted from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014-2016). Logistic regression was used to identify the association between awareness and use of nutrition label and obesity prevalence. Results: Awareness of nutrition labels was significantly associated with obesity prevalence when adjusted for gender, age, monthly family income, and marital status (Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.18, 1.07-1.30, P<0.05; 1.13, 1.00-1.27, P<0.05; 1.15, 1.05-1.26, P<0.001; and 1.17, 1.06-1.30, P<0.05, respectively). Use of nutrition labels was significantly associated with obesity prevalence when adjusted for age, educational level, monthly family income, and marital status (OR and 95% CI: 1.16, 1.05-1.28, P<0.05; 1.19, 1.07-1.31, P<0.05; 1.14, 1.02-1.27, P<0.05; and 1.19, 1.08-1.32, P<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Awareness and use of nutrition labels were significantly associated with obesity prevalence. These findings imply that education, dissemination, and publicity on understandable and useable nutrition labels are needed for food consumers, particularly to control obesity.