Obesity Abstracts

Background: New, mandatory nutrition labels were introduced in the UK from 2014 and are intended to help reduce obesity levels via consumers’ food choices. A key antecedent to consumers’ label use is their understanding of this information which varies according to label format and declines with age. To help consumers to understand and use nutrition labels, education is required in labelling legislation. However, evidence of the effect of education on consumer’s understanding of nutrition labels is lacking in the UK. In addition, there is a need to support older adults’ use of nutrition labels given that obesity levels are highest among the 55–74 year old age group. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a pilot educational intervention which targeted older adults’ understanding of current UK nutrition labels.

Methods: Intervention development and session learning objectives were based on earlier research into older adults’ levels of understanding of the new UK back and front-of-pack nutrition labels. The effect of the educational intervention on understanding of nutrition labels and related characteristics was assessed at pre and post-intervention using questionnaires and quiz items.

Results: Following ethical approval, a cohort of 31 community service-users (median age 56 years) consented to participate in a 1-hour education session advertised as about ‘food labels’. The session was led by a dietitian and included hands-on tasks and a short video. Mean quiz scores out of a maximum of five were low at pre-intervention (mean score =1.7, S.D. 1.8). However, understanding significantly improved (mean score =3.2 S.D. 1.7) at post-intervention (MD=1.4, 95% CI: −2.1, −0.8, P < 0.001) along with participants’ confidence in use of nutrition labels to make healthier food choices (using a 7-point scale, MD =1.4, 95% CI: 0.7 to 2.1).

Conclusions: This pilot study shows the feasibility and potential of a brief education session to support improvements in understanding of UK nutrition labels in older adult community service-users. Future UK research is required, at scale, to confirm the effects of such education on participants’ nutrition label use and dietary intakes.

Keywords: Nutrition labels, older adults, education, intervention

Disclosures: None.