Nutrition knowledge in the obese and overweight.

A 20-question multiple choice questionnaire on nutrition knowledge, health care and exercise was developed and validated (Cronbach alpha 0.83). When applied to a population of the obese and overweight, these individuals scored well (63.5 +/- 1.4 per cent) compared to other hospital patients (50.2 +/- 1.7 per cent), and out-patients (47.7 +/- 2.3 per cent). There was no difference between scores in patients presenting to a hospital clinic (who were heavier) and those presenting in the community. Even allowing for age and sex, the obese and overweight scored better than other groups (P less than 0.005). There was no relationship between knowledge score and weight. A group of overweight patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus scored poorly (42.3 +/- 2.3 per cent). From this study it was apparent that good nutrition and health care knowledge is not necessarily related to good weight control, other factors seem limiting in this sample. The questionnaire itself may be used to assess whether change in knowledge following nutrition education is related to weight loss.