FAT AND FIBER KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIORS RELATED TO BODY-MASS INDEX

Numerous dietary recommendations aim to decrease fat and increase fibe r in the American diet, yet obesity remains a major public health prob lem in the United States as indicated by excessive weight for height r atios. The purpose of the Western Regional Project 182 was to examine knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the general population in 11 st ates and the District of Columbia regarding dietary fat and fiber. Thi s paper specifically discusses the survey results related to the relat ionships of fat and fiber knowledge and food behavior to body mass ind ex (BMI). Using self-reported weight and height, it was estimated that more than one third of the respondents (n = 1297, 42%) had a BMI grea ter than or equal to 26. Subjects with BMI scores less than 26 general ly had the highest knowledge scores of all BMI groups, but no signific ant differences in fat knowledge were found among the BMI classificati ons. Behavior that was related to fat intake was significantly (p < 0. 05) different in respondents with a BMI < 26 as compared to those with higher BMI scores. Gender differences for fat, fiber, and overall beh avior were also highly significant (p < 0.0001) with favorable diet-re lated behaviors exhibited by females. Education, income level, residen ce, and age were consistently related to the BMI of females, but not m ales. Women who graduated from college, earned more than $50,000 per y ear, and lived in an urban location of >250,000 people were most likel y to have a lower BMI than females with other educational levels, lowe r economic categories, and from less populated areas. Results support continued use of government and private funds to educate Americans to improve diet and achieve acceptable weights for heights. (C) 1997 Else vier Science Inc.