Influence of Health Awareness, Dietary Behavior, and Physical Activity on Nutritional Status: Mediating Role of Health Literacy in a Public Health Context

Abstract

This study aims to examine the influence of health awareness, dietary behavior, and physical activity on nutritional status, with a focus on the mediating role of health literacy in a public health context. The research specifically investigates how individuals’ awareness of health issues translates into dietary choices, physical activity, and, ultimately, their nutritional status, while considering the role of health literacy as a crucial mediator in this process. The study employed a quantitative research design with a survey questionnaire distributed to a sample of individuals in Pakistan. Data were analyzed using PLS-SEM (Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling), allowing for the assessment of the direct and indirect effects among the constructs. The findings revealed that health awareness significantly influences dietary behavior, physical activity, and health literacy, with health literacy acting as a strong mediator between health awareness and nutritional status. Furthermore, both dietary behavior and physical activity were found to positively impact nutritional status, but their effects were more pronounced when mediated through health literacy. These results underscore the importance of not only raising awareness about health issues but also enhancing individuals' ability to understand and apply health information effectively. The study highlights the need for targeted health literacy interventions to improve public health outcomes, particularly in countries with low health literacy levels.