Health Implications of Utilizing Non-Professional Dietary Information Sources among Civil Servants in Southeast Nigeria

Healthy habits play a fundamental role in enhancing longevity of life and prevention of non-communicable diseases and this raises concerns about the potential consequences of relying on non-professional information sources for dietary decision making particularly in a region like southeast Nigeria where diet related health issues are a growing concern. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the health implications of civil servants in Southeast Nigeria relying on non-professional dietary information sources such as social media, family, peers, and mass media for nutrition guidance. The specific objectives are: To identify the non-professional dietary information sources used by civil servants in southeast Nigeria, and to assess the health implications of relying on non-professional dietary information sources among civil servants in southeast Nigeria. Mixed method design such as survey and in-depth interview was used, data were collected from a representative sample size of 399 of civil servants across various ministries. The study was anchored on Social Cognitive Theory Findings from the study shows that a significant high level of the respondents uses the social media platforms to seek for dietary information from non-professional information sources also findings from the study revealed that majority of the civil servants have not experienced health issues due to non-professional dietary advice, while a substantial minority reported adverse effects. This highlights that although many civil servants appear resilient to potential risks, a significant subset of them may face health challenges tied to non-professional dietary guidance. The study however recommends Improve Access to Professional Dietary Information: Encourage Workplace Nutrition Support Systems, Regulate and Monitor Dietary Content on social media, Enhance Nutrition Literacy Programs among civil servants in the region.​