Social Media Use for Nutrition-Related Information and Dietary Behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

Examine young adults' use of social media for nutrition-related information (SMNI), and its association with diet quality, restrained eating, and explore potential mediators.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of Australians (aged 22-29 years) in 2023. The predictor variable was SMNI, mediators were nutrition knowledge, confusion, backlash, and social comparison, and outcomes were diet quality and dietary restraint. Mediation analysis was conducted using path analysis.

RESULTS

From 200 participants, 46.5% used SMNI, and this was positively associated with nutrition knowledge (β = 0.19, P = 0.005), which was positively associated with diet quality (β = 0.25, P < 0.001). The mediating pathway between SMNI and diet quality, via nutrition knowledge, had a positive indirect effect (0.05 [95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.09]). There was no association between SMNI and restrained eating.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Almost half the participants used SMNI, which was associated with diet quality and mediated by nutrition knowledge. Social media may be useful for nutrition promotion for young adults.