Consumption practices, preferences and barriers of nuts intake amongst university of Jordan students

Summary: Background: Frequency of nuts consumption has shown positive results, as preventive practices, on chronic diseases – such results were reviewed by recent epidemiological studies. There was also the emphasis on the intake pattern of nuts consumption with respect to encourage eating them. The objective of this study is to quantify and assess nuts intake, the average portion size against the percentage of consumers, mean grams eaten amongst subjects, and reporting the intake of nuts consumed as whole (raw, fried and roasted) or derived hidden sources. Finally, this work also aims to identify the predictors (attitudes, preferences and barriers) of nuts consumption. Data was obtained from a questionnaire on dietary nuts intake collected from 200 healthy adult students in the University of Jordan. The five nuts types under test were: cashew, almond, pine, pistachio and peanut. In general, the consumption of total nuts was lower than expected. Gender, BMI (body mass index), smoking and taking supplements, all have had a significant impact on the consumption of particular types of nuts (p value < 0.05). Students' field of study or level of physical activities did now show any significant impact on nuts consumption. However, students’ gender and their associated BMI have had significant impact on nuts consumption preferences, practices and barriers of intake. Additionally, different forms of nuts may appeal to different age and socio-economic student groups. Attitudes and practices among our sample regarding the health effects of nuts are did not necessarily follow similar patterns found in recent research findings. In conclusion, the low percentage of nuts consumers is of concern, and new strategies have to be put in place to increase nuts consumption. Keywords: Nut consumption, Attitudes, Practice, Preference