Evaluation of Young People’s Behaviors and Attitudes Toward Carbohydrate Nutrition: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background/Objectives: According to WHO, clear food labeling would allow identification of carbohydrates (CHO) and could reduce the incidence of dental caries. Methods: An approved questionnaire no. 300/04.05.2023 with 20 questions using the Lickert scale regarding CHO consumption and their labeling was used for young people. Statistical data processing was performed using SPSS 26.00 Windows (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA), p≤0.05. Results: Study included 150 subjects, 72% (108) women, 28% (42) men and 42.7% (64) with completed university studies. Although 22% (33) considered carbohydrate consumption very important (p=0.47, age), only 13.33 (20) read the label very often (p=0.48, gender). The majority consume sweets 27.3% (41), and the rest carbonated drinks together with other sweets (p≥0.05). Subjects consume sweets often 44% (66), p≥0.05. Most read label of sweets 40.7% (61), dairy products 19.3% (29), carbonated drinks 9.3% (14), but 30.7% (46) read only the expiration date and only 11.3% (17) read the nutritional information (p≥0.05). They neither agree nor disagree regarding the veracity of the data on the labels 48% (72), and 14% (21) disagree. The harmful effects of CHO on oral health are very well known by 23.3% (35), 77.3% (116) have associated diet with cavities, but most choose consumption based on taste 68.7% (103), and only 16.7% (25) chose a nutritional value p≥0.05. Conclusions: Results of this study emphasize the urgent need for the development of targeted educational interventions addressing young people’s carbohydrate consumption, in parallel with the enforcement of transparent and informative food labeling policies to support healthier dietary choices.