Differences in Knowledge of the Ketogenic Diet Between Human Nutrition Students and Non-Human Nutrition Students

Results

What is a true ketogenic diet?

As per chi-square test, χ2(8) = 96.175; p = 0.000. Since the p-value is coming out to be 0.000, which is less than the critical alpha value of 0.05, it can be said that there is a statistically significant interaction between student type and knowledge. That is, Human Nutrition students have better knowledge regarding true ketogenic diet then Non-Human Nutrition.

What foods would you avoid on the ketogenic diet?

As per chi-square test, χ2(8) = 48.083; p = 0.000. Since the p-value is coming out to be 0.000, which is less than the critical alpha value of 0.05, it can be said that there is a statistically significant interaction between student type and knowledge. That is, Human Nutrition students have better knowledge regarding food to avoid on ketogenic diet then Non-Human Nutrition.

Which ONE of the following fruits should be avoided on the ketogenic diet?

As per chi-square test, χ2(8) = 38.222; p = 0.000. Since the p-value is coming out to be 0.000, which is less than the critical alpha value of 0.05, it can be said that there is a statistically significant interaction between student type and knowledge. That is, Human Nutrition students have better knowledge regarding fruits to be avoided on ketogenic diet then Non-Human Nutrition.

How many grams of carbohydrates should one consume on the ketogenic diet to remain in a state of ketosis?

As per chi-square test, χ2(8) = 52.515; p = 0.000. Since the p-value is coming out to be 0.000, which is less than the critical alpha value of 0.05, it can be said that there is a statistically significant interaction between student type and knowledge. That is, Human Nutrition students have better knowledge regarding the consumption of carbohydrates on the ketogenic diet then Non-Human Nutrition.

A true ketogenic diet is a

As per chi-square test, χ2(8) = 59.142; p = 0.000. Since the p-value is coming out to be 0.000, which is less than the critical alpha value of 0.05, it can be said that there is a statistically significant interaction between student type and knowledge. That is, Human Nutrition students have better knowledge regarding true ketogenic diet then Non-Human Nutrition.

In order to lose weight on the ketogenic diet, one must remain in a state of ketosis. Which ONE of the following could stop the state of ketosis?

As per chi-square test, χ2(8) = 42.186; p = 0.000. Since the p-value is coming out to be 0.000, which is less than the critical alpha value of 0.05, it can be said that there is a statistically significant interaction between student type and knowledge. That is, Human Nutrition students have better knowledge regarding lose weight on ketogenic diet then Non-Human Nutrition.

Ketoacidosis is associated with the ketogenic diet. What do you think ketoacidosis refers to?

As per chi-square test, χ2(8) = 77.703; p = 0.000. Since the p-value is coming out to be 0.000, which is less than the critical alpha value of 0.05, it can be said that there is a statistically significant interaction between student type and knowledge. That is, Human Nutrition students have better knowledge regarding the association between ketoacidosis and ketogenic diet then Non-Human Nutrition.

Which specific group of people can suffer ketoacidosis when not properly following the ketogenic diet?

As per chi-square test, χ2(24) = 97.536; p = 0.000. Since the p-value is coming out to be 0.000, which is less than the critical alpha value of 0.05, it can be said that there is a statistically significant interaction between student type and knowledge. That is, Human Nutrition students have better knowledge regarding the type of people suffer ketoacidosis when on ketogenic diet then Non-Human Nutrition.

Have you ever tried the ketogenic diet?

As per chi-square test, χ2(2) = 6.913; p = 0.032. Since the p-value is coming out to be 0.000, which is less than the critical alpha value of 0.05, it can be said that there is a statistically significant interaction between student type and knowledge. That is, more Human Nutrition students have tried ketogenic diet then Non-Human Nutrition.

Discussion

The results section tries to find out the difference in knowledge related to the Ketogenic diet between Human Nutrition Students and Non-Human Nutrition Students. In this regards, several questions related to Ketogenic diet were asked to different students and their responses were analysed using SPSS. In the views of Paoli (2014), the ketogenic diet is high fat, low carbohydrate and moderate fat diet. When this question was asked to the students, it was found that there was a statistically significant interaction between student types and knowledge regarding the Ketogenic diet. That is, Human Nutrition students have better knowledge regarding true ketogenic diet then Non-Human Nutrition. As per the analysis, it was found that majority of the Human Nutrition Students said that Ketogenic diet had been used as an effective means of weight-loss because it turns the body into a “fat burning machine” through forcing the body into ketosis. On the other hand, very few Non-Human Nutrition students had an idea regarding the true Ketogenic diet.

Further, Lutas & Yellen, (2013), Martin et al., (2016) & Kossoff and Wang, (2013) believed that the ketogenic diet could be used to suppress the effects of seizures especially amongst children and young adults. Same results were obtained when the respondents were asked which specific group of people can suffer ketoacidosis when not properly following the ketogenic diet? Majority of the Human Nutrition Students responded that it is men and children, as well as overweight and diabetic people who can suffer ketoacidosis when not properly following the ketogenic diet. Thus, the results of the present study are in-line with the earlier studies performed by Lutas & Yellen, (2013), Martin et al., (2016) & Kossoff and Wang, (2013). Both, present study and earlier studies found that men and children can suffer ketoacidosis when not properly following the ketogenic diet. However, the present results also show that Non-Human Students did not have enough knowledge regarding a specific group of people who can suffer ketoacidosis when not properly following the ketogenic diet as compared to the Human Nutrition Students.

Foster et al., (2003) found that Ketogenic diets have gained popularity because of the weight-loss it aided in comparison to than other fad energy-restricted diets presented in controlled trials. Further, Fad diets are diets that promise weight loss in a short period of time. It includes cutting out certain food groups, and some diets can have extremely low calories. In response to the question related to which food and fruit to cut from the diet, Human Nutrition Students had knowledge that it is the rice and grapes that should be avoided on the ketogenic diet. This shows that majority of the Human Nutrition students had knowledge about which foods and fruits to avoid on Ketogenic diet. However, results show that there is a statistically significant difference between Human Nutrition Students and Non-Human Nutrition Students regarding the knowledge about which food and fruit should be avoided on the ketogenic diet. Non-Human Nutrition students did not have any idea about the food or fruit that should be avoided on the ketogenic diet.

Thus, from the overall analysis and discussion, it can be concluded that there is a statistically significant difference in knowledge regarding the ketogenic diet between Human Nutrition Students and Non-Human Nutrition Students. Human Nutrition Students have much more knowledge regarding the Ketogenic diet as compared to the Non-Human Nutrition Students. Thus, it can be said that Human Nutrition Students are more aware of the Ketogenic diet than Non-Human Nutrition Students.