The effect of accuracy of perceptions of dietary-fat intake on perceived risk and intentions to change

Consumption of excess fat increases risk for many health problems and disea ses. In the present study, 188 undergraduate students were studied to under stand self-perceptions of dietary-fat intake and the impact of those percep tions. Findings indica ted th at the majority of participants had inaccurat e perceptions about the amount of fat in their diets. Further, compared to people who overestimated dietary-fat intake, people who underestimated fat intake had lower perceived risk of cancer, had lower intentions to change, and demonstrated less knowledge about the dietary-fat content of many foods . Findings suggest that this unrealistic underestimation of fat intake is a cognitive barrier to dietary change and people who underestimate dietary f at intake may require more intensive intervention to change their diets.