Thai nutrition beliefs and eating behaviors associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs)

Abstract

This research investigates the Thai’s nutrition beliefs and food consumption behaviors, comparing healthy subjects with those that have non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Convenience sampling was used, and 430 Thai residents agreed to participate. They filled out a five-part questionnaire that included personal data, health status, food consumption behaviors, communication channels for nutrition information and nutrition beliefs. A majority of them worked in an office with a salary of at least 20,000 baht per month (35%). Over 58% were females and had at least an undergraduate degree (49%). Of the 23% of the participants that had NCDs, their nutritional beliefs and eating behaviors were not significantly different than those participants that had no NCDs. In a digital age that includes LINE, Facebook and YouTube, 43% of the participants still said most of the information about nutrition comes from local television programs. There was a significant negative correlation between nutrition beliefs and actual eating behaviors, but it was so small as to have no predictive effect.