Knowledge, acceptance and uses of the Law for the Promotion of Healthy Eating (PAS) No. 27,642/2021 in adult high school students

Abstract

The Law for the Promotion of Healthy Eating, was implemented in Argentina with the objective of improving public health by promoting healthy eating, establishes the obligation to include front warning labels on packaged foods and non-alcoholic beverages, informing in a manner clear and truthful about the content of critical nutrients. In addition, it regulates advertising aimed at children and adolescents and promotes food education in schools. The objective of the study was to analyze the degree of knowledge and acceptance of the Law in students, describe their sociodemographic characteristics and their nutritional status.

Epidemiological, descriptive cross-sectional study. In a probabilistic sample of 41 students from first to 3rd year of CENMA N°71, a semi-structured questionnaire, designed ad hoc and subjected to pilot testing, was applied using the personal interview technique. The qualitative data were analyzed by quantifying them through percentages. Based on body weight and height, the Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated.

The sample consisted of 23 women and 18 men, whose average age was 26 years (SD: 10.21), 78% indicated they belonged to the lowest-income population segment. A mean BMI of 26.62 kg/m2 (SD: 7.19 kg/m2) was observed. The cases of obesity and overweight corresponded to 21.95% and 14.63%. Sedentary lifestyle reached 4 out of every 10 students. In reference to the PAS Law, 53.66% indicated their ignorance; just over half (51.22%) voted in favor; and a similar percentage (53.66%) expressed agreement that the information provided by the front labeling is clear and easy to interpret. When asked if such information is used when purchasing food products, 41.46% responded that they never consider it. Distrust was the emotion/feeling/sensation that accumulated the largest proportion of the data (30%) in the presence of black warning seals.

The findings highlight the importance of disseminating knowledge about the PAS Law in school settings, with the purpose of stimulating the use of this information when selecting and purchasing food.  These results cannot be generalized due to the sample size.