Evaluation of nutritional knowledge levels and eating desires of individuals who engage in regular sports

This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between body mass index values, nutritional knowledge levels and eating desires of individuals who do regular sports and to compare them with individuals who do not do sports. The research was conducted between July 5 and November 5. 84 female and 36 male individuals who were actively doing fitness at Profit PT Studio and Dr. Kadir Topbaş Sports Facility in Çekmeköy, İstanbul participated in the study and 42 female and 21 male individuals who did not do sports were included as a control group. The study was conducted with a total of 183 individuals. Research questions were collected through a survey form, both face-to-face and online. In the survey form, general information (Sociodemographic characteristics and eating habits) was used in the first part, Food Consumption Frequency in the second part, Nutrition Knowledge Level Scale for Adults in the third part, and the Desire to Eat Scale Short Form was used in the last part. According to the results obtained from the research; The basic nutrition and food preference scores of individuals who do regular sports were found to be higher than the average score of individuals who do not do sports, but this difference is not statistically significant (p>0.05). When the desire to eat scores are evaluated in both groups; It was concluded that the desire to eat score of individuals who exercise regularly was higher and this difference was found to be statistically significant (p <0.05). The mean score of eating desire of individuals who do sports regularly (36.07±19.36) was found to be higher than the mean score of individuals who do not do sports (30.11±13.64). According to the Pearson Correlation Analysis, while there was no statistically significant relationship between individuals' body mass index and Basic Nutrition scores and Food Preference scores (p>0.05), a positive (r=0,184, r=0,282) and significant relationship was found between body mass index and desire to eat score. According to this result, individuals' body mass indexes and desire to eat scores increase significantly together. As a result, individuals who do sports regularly should be given the necessary nutrition education by experts on healthy nutrition and healthy food selection and those who do sports should be followed by dietitians more important.