Fats and Carbs Fats and Carbs ――A Snapshot of Consumer KnowledgeA Snapshot of Consumer Knowledge

from a Recent FDA Surveyfrom a Recent FDA Survey

Chung-Tung Jordan Lin and Conrad ChoiniereChung-Tung Jordan Lin and Conrad ChoiniereConsumer Studies StaffConsumer Studies Staff

Office of Regulations and PolicyOffice of Regulations and PolicyCenter for Food Safety and Applied NutritionCenter for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Food and Drug AdministrationFood and Drug AdministrationAugust 2005August 2005

Contact: Chung-Tung Jordan LinContact: Chung-Tung Jordan Lin(301)436-1831; (301)436-1831; chung-tung.lin@fda.hhs.govchung-tung.lin@fda.hhs.gov

22

Purposes of surveyPurposes of survey

To establish baseline measures for Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) on consumer understanding of the relationships between dietary fats and the risk of coronary heart disease

To obtain information on consumer perceptions and practices related to carbohydrates

33

MethodologyMethodology

Random-digit-dialing telephone survey

Nationally representative sample

All 50 states and D.C.

October 12, 2004 – January 21, 2005

Completed interviews = 1,798 adults

Response rate = 34% (AAPOR RR3)

Results reported here have been weighted to be nationally representative

44

Dietary Fats and Risk of Heart Disease ―What Do Consumers Know?

55

Most consumers say they have heard of these fats (PART)

95

6761

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Saturated fat Trans fat Omega-3 fatty acid

% who haveheard of a fat

66

More consumers know sat fat ─ heart linkagethan trans or omega 3 ─ heart linkage (PART)

6 51 4 39

48 5 4 43

78 11 19

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

% who have heard of a fat and say the linkage is

Omega-3 fatty acid

Trans fat

Saturated fat

Raises risk Lowers risk No effect on risk Don't know

1

77

Many consumers saythey have heard of these fats

77

6268

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Polyunsaturatedfatty acid

Monounsaturatedfatty acid

Hydrogenated oil

% who haveheard of a fat

88

Many of them, however, cannot tell thelinks between these fats and heart disease

39 6 5 50

16 16 9 59

21 15 7 57

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

% who have heard of a fat and say the linkage is

Hydrogenated oil

Monounsaturated fattyacid

Polyunsaturated fattyacid

Raises risk Lowers risk No effect on risk Don't know

99

Overall, fat ─ heart disease awareness ishighest with sat, lowest with poly & mono

10 14 37 38

12 21 44 23

27 7 34 32

31 6 24 39

32 6 29 33

75 2 18 5

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

mono

poly

hydrog

omega 3

trans

saturated

heard of and correct heard of but wrong heard of but no idea never heard of

% of consumers

1010

Carbohydrates ―What Do Consumers Know and Do?

1111

Perceptions vary inhow different kinds of carb affect weight

56 20 10 14

33 41 7 19

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

sugar alcohol vs sugar

net vs total carb

never heard of net carb/sugar alcohol heard of but no ideaheard of and same effects heard of and different effects

% consumers

1212

Perceptions vary in how sugar and starch affect weight

Did not follow any diet plan

Different effects 25 %

Don’t know 43 %

Same effect 33 %

1313

Exposure to “carb” products is high

71 29

67 33

89 11

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

% of consumers

"Carb" in product name

Amount of carbhighlighted

"Low carb"

Have heard or seen Have not

1414

Many consumers say “low carb” products can be high or low in calories

Did not follow any diet plan

Heard of and saylow in calories 8 %

Heard of butno idea 23 %

Never heard of low-carb products 9 %

Heard of and say high in calories 10 %

Heard of and sayeither high or lowin calories 50%

1515

Different interpretations of what kind of carb “low carb” refers to

Heard of and saylow in total carb 4 %

Heard of and saylow in either carb 21 % Heard of but

no idea 30 %

Never heard of low-carb or net carb 39 %

Heard of low-carbproducts and say low in net carb 6 %

1616

Many consumers say manufacturersdecide which products are “low carb”

Heard ofbut no idea 6 %

Never heard of low-carb products 12 %

Heard of andsay someone elsedecides 2 %

Heard of and saymanufacturers 52% Heard of and say

government 28%

1717

Many have tried “low carb” products,while others are just not interested

Did not follow any diet plan

Heard of, never tried,but likely to try 6 %

Never heard of low-carb products 11 %

Heard of andhave tried 53%

Heard of, nevertried, andunlikely to try 30%

1818

Most of those who limit carb do not follow any diet plan

Follow a diet plansuch as Atkins or South Beach 21 %

Do not follow any diet plan 79 %

1919

Those who limit carbdo it for various purposes

Did not follow any diet plan

To lose weight 54 %

For other purposes 37 %

To lose weight andfor other purposes 6 %

Don’t know 3 %

2020

Those who see themselves as overweight are more likely to limit carb

14

33

52

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

% who limit carb

Sees oneself asunderweight

Sees oneself as aboutthe right weight

Sees oneself asoverweight

The differences aresignificant ( p <0.0001 )

2121

Among those who see themselves as overweight,concern about overweight is linked to limiting carb

37

52

63

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

% who see themselves as overweight and limit carb

Not concerned

Somewhat concerned

Very concerned

The differences aresignificant ( p <0.0001 )

2222

Higher (self-reported) BMImeans more likely to limit carb intake

13

32

42

50

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

% who limit carb

BMI = underweight

BMI = normal weight

BMI = overweight

BMI = obese

The differences aresignificant ( p <0.0001 )

2323

Different proportions of consumerstry to limit these things

61

4852

41

58

46

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

fat calories cholesterol carb sugar sodium

% wholimit

2424

Calories and fat are considered more important than carb in losing weight

Calories 44 % Fat

48 %

Neither is importantor no idea 7 %

Carb 25%

Calories 62 %

Neither is importantor no idea 1 %

Both are important 7 %

Both areimportant 6 %

Calories vs. Fat Calories vs. Carb

2525

SummarySummary

Limited understanding of most dietary fats

Interpretation of carb terms vary Weight control motivates carb limitation

Fat and calorie seen as more important than carb in losing weight