Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nutrition literacy (NL) plays a crucial role in shaping long-term health behaviors among college students, particularly during the transformative final phase of their school education. This study investigated the level of NL among college students in Beijing and examined its association with these behaviors. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 765 students from 12 universities in Beijing. The questionnaire comprised three sections: demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and a nutrition literacy scale (Cronbach's α = 0.893; χ(2)/DF = 4.750; RMSEA = 0.048; GFI = 0.891; AGFI = 0.876). The NL scale was divided into two domains: cognition and skills. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize NL scores and their distributions across dimensions and subgroups. Group differences for categorical variables were examined using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Logistic regression analyses was employed to identify factors associated with NL. Mediation effects were tested using the Baron and Kenny approach. RESULTS: The mean NL score was 67.74 ± 9.07, with only 7.6% of participants achieving an excellent NL level. Several lifestyle factors were significantly associated with excellent NL. Students with monthly living expenses of 2000-3000 CNY (OR = 2.35, p = 0.019) and >3000 CNY (OR = 3.22, p = 0.023) had higher odds of excellent NL compared to those spending <2000 CNY. Occasional exercise (OR = 2.36, p = 0.026) and daily breakfast consumption (OR = 2.76, p = 0.027) were also positively associated with excellent NL. In contrast, frequent midnight snacking significantly reduced the likelihood of excellent NL (OR = 0.20, p = 0.031). Better self-rated health status was strongly correlated with higher NL (OR = 2.82, p = 0.012). Moreover, NL mediated the relationship between lifestyle factors and healthy eating behaviors, underscoring a gap between nutritional knowledge and practical food skills. CONCLUSIONS: Current findings indicated suboptimal nutrition literacy among college students in Beijing, particularly in food selection skills. Excellent NL rates were associated with demographic and lifestyle factors, with NL serving as a mediator between lifestyle and health-related behaviors. These results emphasize the need for targeted nutrition education programs to enhance both knowledge and practical skills among university students.