School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Mar 6;15(3):460. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15030460.
Calories and nutrition labeling on restaurant menus are powerful policy interventions to reduce the burden of obesity epidemic. However, the success of this policy requires an assurance of equal benefits among customers with different characteristics, especially people at a higher risk of poor health outcomes and eating habits. This study examined the sociodemographic disparities in the attitude and preference for calories and nutrition labeling on menus among customers in various food facilities. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1746 customers of food facilities in Hanoi, Vietnam, who were recruited by using a multistage sampling method. Socio-economic characteristics, attitudes regarding the necessity and preferences for calories, and nutrition labeling on menus were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to determine the associated factors with attitudes and preferences. Results show that most of the sample understood the necessity to have calories and nutrition labeling (59.8%), and 71.8% preferred to have calories and nutrition labeling. People who often visited food facilities (Odd Ratio (OR) = 1.36; 95% confident interval (CI) = 1.06-1.74) and had higher education and were more likely to understand the necessity of calories and nutrition labeling. Factors such as being homemakers, often going to dine-in restaurants, and perceiving that labeling was unnecessary were negatively associated with preferences for calories and nutrition labeling. The results of this study encourage policymakers to implement calories and nutrition labeling in the future. Health education interventions to improve knowledge and attitude as regards calories and nutrition labeling on menus are important, particularly for males, less-educated individuals, and high-income people.
餐厅菜单上的卡路里和营养标签是减少肥胖流行负担的有力政策干预措施。然而，这项政策的成功需要确保具有不同特征的顾客，特别是健康状况和饮食习惯较差的人群，都能平等受益。本研究调查了不同食品设施顾客对菜单上卡路里和营养标签的态度和偏好方面的社会人口差异。采用多阶段抽样方法，在越南河内的 1746 名食品设施顾客中进行了横断面研究。分析了社会经济特征、对菜单上卡路里和营养标签必要性的态度以及对其的偏好。采用多变量逻辑回归确定与态度和偏好相关的因素。结果表明，大多数样本都理解了在菜单上提供卡路里和营养标签的必要性（59.8%），且 71.8%的人更倾向于看到卡路里和营养标签。经常光顾食品设施的人（优势比（OR）=1.36；95%置信区间（CI）=1.06-1.74）、受教育程度较高的人更有可能理解卡路里和营养标签的必要性。家庭主妇、经常去餐厅用餐、认为标签没有必要等因素与对卡路里和营养标签的偏好呈负相关。本研究结果鼓励政策制定者在未来实施卡路里和营养标签。开展改善有关菜单上卡路里和营养标签的知识和态度的健康教育干预措施非常重要，特别是针对男性、受教育程度较低的人群和高收入人群。
