Nutrition Literacy, Neighborhood, and Diet

Objective: This study examined the influence of nutrition literacy and neighborhood on diet quality within the Mexican-origin population residing in the United States, addressing a gap in existing literature that lacks focus on specific Latinx subgroups.

Design: This study used a descriptive, correlational design to examine the relationships between nutrition literacy, neighborhood ranking, and diet quality.

Sample: A total of 130 Mexican origin participants living in the United States completed all components of this study.

Measurements: Participants completed demographics, the Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument (NLit), Area Deprivation Index (ADI), and Diet History Questionnaire III (DHQ3).

Results: Compared to the national average of 59, participants' average score was 63.16. When examining subgroups of diet quality, participants scored poorly compared to the national average for saturated fats, seafood, and plant proteins. Nutrition literacy was a predictor of total protein foods, seafood, and plant proteins, while the ADI was a predictor of increased refined grains score.

Conclusion: The present study provides insights about the influencing factors of diet quality in this population. Given the essential role diet has in shaping health outcomes and preventing chronic illness, addressing dietary subgroups within the Latinx population is critical to accurately informing nursing interventions and patient education.