Impact of Health Promotion Literacy on Junk Food Consumption and Healthy Eating Behaviors Among Educated Youth in Pakistan

Author(s) : Tayyaba Arshad 1, Mussarat Hussain 2, Tauqeer Ahmed Lak 3.

Abstract:

Health is a state of complete psychological, physical, and social well-being. To gain a healthy life, one must have a balanced diet and has to exercise regularly. The knowledge and promotion of healthy eating habits is a key component of health promotion strategies. Poor eating habits, like consuming excessive junk food and late-night eating, can lead to many health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, destroyed appetite, high obesity, and depression. The present study is designed to examine the relationship between health promotion literacy, healthy eating habits, and junk food behavior among educated youth in Punjab, Pakistan. A quantitative research design was used. A well-structured questionnaire was developed by using 3 adapted scales, including the All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale (AAHLS), the Eating Habits Questionnaire, and the Diet and Behavior Scale (DABS), for data collection. The study utilized a sample of 310 university students from Sargodha, Lahore, and Islamabad. The data were analyzed using correlation, regression, and the Chi-square test through SPSS software. Findings revealed that high levels of health promotion literacy were associated with reduced junk food behavior and increased adoption of healthy eating habits among educated youth in Punjab, Pakistan. This study identified the significance of health literacy and its promotion and proposed interventions to improve health literacy services, expand understanding about nutrition, and empower educated young people to make good decisions related to their dietary practices.

Keywords: Health Promotion Literacy, Nutrition Knowledge, Dietary Behavior, Junk Food, Eating behavior