[Dietary recommendation-related knowledge level of Chinese adults in 2021]

To analyze the knowledge level and related factors related to dietary recommendations for Chinese residents aged 18-64 years in 2021.

A multi-stage cluster random sampling was used to select 302 survey sites across the country, there were 102 398 people surveyed, with 98 567 valid questionnaires, 49.4% male and 41.9% urban, and an average age of(38.5±12.2) years. A standardized questionnaire certified by experts and evaluated for reliability and validity was used to conduct the face-to-face survey. The questionnaire was scored out of 100 points; dietary recommendation-related knowledge was scored out of 30 points, and a score of 22.5 points or above was judged as acquiring relevant knowledge. Descriptive statistics were used to report the values of relevant knowledge level of respondents with different characteristics, and univariate and multi-variate Logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors influencing relevant knowledge level.

The average score of dietary recommendation-related knowledge was(17.9±4.2), and the knowledge awareness rate was 14.7%. The five knowledge points with the lowest correct rates were the recommended intakes of soybeans and products(21.1%), added sugars(22.6%), milk(25.5%), food groups(27.6%), and cooking oils(31.4%) and the recommended intakes of fruits and salt were also less correct(56.9% and 58.5%). Multi-variate analysis revealed that the knowledge of dietary recommendations was lower among residents in rural(OR=0.945, 95%CI 0.944-0.945), central(OR=0.863, 95%CI 0.863-0.864) and western(OR=0.983, 95%CI 0.982-0.983) areas, those with chronic diseases(OR=0.784, 95%CI 0.783-0.784) and those who did not know about chronic diseases(OR=0.694, 95%CI 0.694-0.694) compared to the counterparts; female(OR=1.090, 95%CI 1.090-1.091) had a higher knowledge rate compared to male. The awareness rate of residents increased with the level of education, and the trend was statistically significant(P<0.001).

The level of knowledge related to dietary recommendations for the adult population in China in 2021 is low, especially for the recommended intake of dairy, soybeans and products, and cooking oils, and the knowledge level of men, rural, central and western, and less educated populations is even lower.