Calorie Labeling on Restaurants Menu: Notice and Use among King Abdul-Aziz University Students in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia

Background: Calorie labeling on restaurants menus (CLRM) is an important public health step to halt the rapid increase in obesity. Research on CLRM conducted on Saudi college students are limited and those investigating its association with weight control behaviors and concerns are absent. Therefore, we aimed to assess CLRM notice and use to limit calories and to investigate its relationships with restaurant visit frequency, weight-related concerns, and weight control behaviors among Saudi college students. Methods: Participants self-reported demographic, medical information, lifestyle, dietary habits, and weight status and completed a validated Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults IV survey (EAT IV) about notice and use of CLRM, restaurants eating frequency, binge eating, weight control behaviors and concern. Results: A total of 379 responded to the questionnaire, their age ranged from 18-28 years. Noticing of CLRM was reported in 74 %, of the participants and 57.5% of them used it to limit calories intake. Logistic regression revealed that, more weight concern score, studying at practical faculties and moderate PA were predictors for noticing menu labels, while using more healthy behaviors for weight control and healthier dietary habits were positively associated with using menu labels to limit calories. Conclusions: Not everyone who notices CLRM uses it to limit calories and healthy behaviors for weight control and healthier dietary habits are associated with increased labels use to limit calories intake. Raising awareness of CLRM for promoting appropriate caloric consumption and effective health promotion strategies directed at adopting and maintaining positive health-related behaviors are crucial.