Nutrition Labeling Usage Influences Blood Markers in Body-Size Self-Conscious Individuals: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2013–2018

This study analyzed the effects of nutrition labeling and examined whether nutrition labeling usage influences the levels of blood markers, such as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) in body-size self-conscious individuals. The dependent variables were HDL-C and TG; the independent variables were the respondents’ awareness of nutrition labeling use, sociodemographic factors, perceived health status, stress, lifestyle, frequency of eating out, family history of hyperlipidemia, survey year, body mass index, total energy intake, and cholesterol levels. Body-size perception was assessed by matching body mass index with subjective body-shape recognition using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2018). Differences were observed in HDL-C and TG levels according to nutrition labeling usage and body-image perception. The group that recognized body image correctly showed high HDL-C and low TG levels when they actively used nutrition labeling, whereas the group that recognized body image incorrectly showed no significant changes in HDL-C and TG levels even when actively using nutrition labeling. The standard nutritional information, which does not consider individual body-size perceptions, has a restrictive effect. Policies should be developed towards tailored intervention strategies considering individual body-size perception.