Preferred Sources of Nutrition Information: Contrasts Between Younger and Older Adults

Abstract

Preferences for sources of nutrition information are determined by age, social relationships, resource familiarity, and electronic literacy. Young adults (ages 18–25) and older adults (ages 60–103) were surveyed. Young adults took Research Readiness Self-Assessments that measure electronic information literacy. Dietitians were preferred by 34% of younger adults and 15% of older adults. Internet was favored by 22% of young adults, but many had trouble evaluating the quality of nutrition Web sites. Older adults in poor health sought out dietitians, while the remainder preferred other health professionals. The youngest adults and many healthy older adults preferred family and friends.

Keywords:

• consumer
• nutrition literacy
• media
• Internet

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank our colleagues Wesley Leonard, Jodi Brookins Fisher, and Irene O'Boyle for their technical assistance and help with data collection. Internal funding mechanisms supported this project.