The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the Health Locus of Control (HLC) of Japanese people and their use of health foods together with their awareness of foods with health claims. In October 2017, an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on a university's staff regarding their HLC and their experience and impression of health food use and the functional food system. Health food in this study were defined as "all foods intended to maintain and improve health.". The overall mean of the HLC scale score was 38.2 (out of 56), and the subjects were divided into two groups: an external control group with a score of 38 or less, and an internal control group with a score of 39 or more. The percentage of those who were currently using health foods tended to be higher in the internal control group, and the positive image of health foods was also significantly higher in this group. There was no association between the level of awareness of each health food and the level of understanding of the foods with health claims and HLC.
In conclusion, the findings suggest that having strong internal control may strengthen the positive image of health foods and may influence their use. It is possible that those with high internal control consume health foods as a health behavior because they have high awareness of their health.
