Food neophobia and its association with sociodemographic factors and food preferences among Bangladeshi university students: Evidence from a cross-sectional study
Sumaia Sahrin,
Md. Hasan Al Banna,
M. A. Rifat,
Justice Kanor Tetteh,
Tasnu Ara,
Mohammad Hamiduzzaman,
Charles Spence,
Satyajit Kundu,
Mohammad Tazrian Abid,
M.M. Mehedi Hasan,
Nargees Akter,
Ashish Biswas,
Dilruba Easmin Jharna
Affiliations
Sumaia Sahrin
Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh
Md. Hasan Al Banna
Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh; Nutrition Initiative, Khustia, Bangladesh; Corresponding author. Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh.
M. A. Rifat
Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Justice Kanor Tetteh
Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, University Post Office, Cape Coast, Ghana
Tasnu Ara
Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Home Economics, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
Mohammad Hamiduzzaman
Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD, 4225, Australia
Charles Spence
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6BW, UK
Satyajit Kundu
Global Health Institute, North South University, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh; Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh
Mohammad Tazrian Abid
Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh
M.M. Mehedi Hasan
Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh
Nargees Akter
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh
Ashish Biswas
Faculty of Agriculture, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh
Dilruba Easmin Jharna
Department of Biochemistry and Food Analysis, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh
Food neophobia, described as a reluctance to eat and or avoid new food, is a personality trait that affects food choice. Despite its potential influence on an individual's food intake, food neophobia has been poorly investigated in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate food neophobia and its association with sociodemographic factors and food preferences in a sample of Bangladeshi university students. Five hundred students from five public universities completed the structured surveys. Food neophobia was assessed by a 10-item validated food neophobia scale with some minor modifications based on study settings. A multiple linear regression model was used to observe the factors associated with food neophobia. The mean food neophobia score among study participants was 37.45 (SD: 13.39, Range: 13–67). According to the adjusted statistical model, being female (regression coefficient, β = 2.73), having higher monthly family income (β = −6.64), being underweight (β = 4.68), being overweight (β = −4.63), having any food allergy (β = 9.09), and a history of sickness after eating a new food item (β = 5.16) were significantly associated with food neophobia amongst the participants. The participants' liking of various food items such as vegetables were significantly correlated with food neophobia scores. Nutrition education policies and programs are of importance to address the students' food neophobia during their tertiary education so that they maintain lifelong healthy dietary habits and consume a variety of foods to improve their physical health and well-being.
