The association of highly processed food consumption with food choice values and food literacy in Japanese adults: a nationwide cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Highly processed food (HPF) consumption is increasing globally and has become a prominent public health concern. However, the relationship between HPF consumption and food choice values and food literacy is unknown. This study aimed to examine the association of HPF consumption with food choice values and food literacy. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from a nationwide questionnaire survey conducted in 2018 among 2232 Japanese adults aged 18–80 years. We assessed eight food choice values (accessibility, convenience, health/weight control, tradition, sensory appeal, organic, comfort, and safety) using a 25-item scale, and food literacy characterised by nutrition knowledge (using a validated 143-item questionnaire), cooking and food skills (using 14- and 19-item scales, respectively), and eight eating behaviours (hunger, food responsiveness, emotional overeating, enjoyment of food, satiety responsiveness, emotional undereating, food fussiness, and slowness in eating, using the 35-item Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire). HPF consumption was estimated using a validated brief diet history questionnaire. The associations between HPF consumption and age, body mass index, energy intake, and each score on food choice values and food literacy were evaluated by multiple linear regression. RESULTS: In males, one standard deviation increase in scores for cooking skill and satiety responsiveness was associated with an increase in HPF consumption by 22.1 g/4184 kJ (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.6 to 37.5) and 15.4 g/4184 kJ (95% CI: 6.0 to 24.7), respectively. In females, one standard deviation increase in age and scores for safety and nutrition knowledge corresponded to a decrease in HPF consumption by − 16.4 g/4184 kJ (95% CI: − 23.4 to − 9.3), − 9.9 g/4184 kJ (95% CI: − 19.1 to − 0.7), and − 11.1 g/4184 kJ (95% CI: − 17.0 to − 5.3), whereas one standard deviation increase in the satiety responsiveness score corresponded to an increase in HPF consumption by 13.1 g/4184 kJ (95% CI: 6.8 to 19.4). CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study suggests that several aspects of food choice values and food literacy were associated with HPF consumption in Japanese adults. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings in a broader context. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12966-023-01538-7.