Jamie Zoellner|Wen You|Carol Connell|Renae L. Smith-Ray|Kacie C. Allen|Katherine L. Tucker|Brenda M. Davy|Paul A. Estabrooks
Health Literacy Is Associated with Healthy Eating Index Scores and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake: Findings from the Rural Lower Mississippi Delta
Virginia Tech
background although health literacy public health priority area decade relationship health literacy dietary quality thoroughly explored objective evaluate health literacy skills relation healthy eating index hei scores sugarsweetened beverage ssb consumption accounting demographic variables design crosssectional survey participantssetting communitybased proportional sample adults residing rural lower mississippi delta methods instruments included validated 158item regional food frequency questionnaire newest vital sign scores range 0 6 assess health literacy statistical analyses performed descriptive statistics analysis variance multivariate linear regression results 376 participants majority african american 676 without college degree 715 household income level 20000year 550 participants 739 scored two lowest health literacy categories multivariate linear regression model predict total hei scores significant r2024 f188 p001 every 1point increase health literacy associated 121point increase hei scores controlling variables significant predictors hei scores included age sex supplemental nutrition assistance program participation health literacy also significantly predicted ssb consumption r2015 f63 p001 accounting demographic variables every 1 point health literacy scores associated 34 fewer kilocalories per day ssbs age significant covariate ssb model conclusions although health literacy linked numerous poor health outcomes knowledge first investigation establish relationship health literacy hei scores ssb consumption study suggests understanding causes consequences limited health literacy important factor promoting compliance dietary guidelines americans