The Digital Diet Literacy Paradox: Why Highly Educated, Active Adults Still Fall Behind

Introduction: Digital healthy diet literacy (DHDL) is essential for translating online nutrition information into effective dietary behaviors. This study examines determinants of DHDL among highly educated, physically active adults, revealing gaps in knowledge application despite academic and lifestyle advantages.

Methods: A cross-sectional study included 200 gym members (mean age 30.4±7.1 years; 65% men) with university-level or higher education. Demographic and lifestyle data were collected. DHDL was measured using a validated scale. Participants were dichotomized into low (< median) and high (≥ median) DHDL groups. Logistic regression assessed associations with age, gender, education level (university vs. postgraduate), marital status, exercise frequency, and body mass index (BMI). Analyses were conducted in SPSS.

Results: Participants exercised an average of 3.7±1.3 days per week, had a mean BMI of 25.5±3.5 kg/m², and mean DHDL score 25.0±13.3. Fifty-eight percent of participants reported difficulty finding reliable online diet information, 45.5% had trouble understanding the recommendations, 54.5% struggled to assess their relevance, and 48.5% used online resources to improve their daily eating. Over half (55%) scored below the median, indicating low DHDL despite high education and regular exercise. Participants in the at-risk BMI category (≥25) were 2.27 times more likely to have high DHDL than those with healthy BMI (95% CI: 1.19–4.32; p=0.01), suggesting that higher BMI individuals actively engage more with digital diet information to manage or reduce weight. Other variables were not significant.

Conclusions: Despite high education and regular exercise, digital diet literacy remains suboptimal in this population. Higher BMI individuals appear to compensate by engaging more actively with online diet resources. Targeted, structured digital nutrition education within fitness environments may help bridge this gap and enhance the translation of knowledge into healthier eating practices.