The effect of perceived food literacy level in health professionals on healthy lifestyle behaviors and quality of life

The study was conducted to determine the impact of perceived food literacy among healthcare professionals on healthy lifestyle behaviors and quality of life. The cross-sectional study was carried out with healthcare professionals at Mustafakemalpaşa State Hospital in Bursa province between January 2022 and June 2022. The sample size was not calculated, and attempts were made to reach the entire population. A total of n=330 individuals (95.6%), who agreed to participate, formed the research group. Dependent variables of the study included perceived food literacy, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and quality of life. T-tests and ANOVA (Posthoc: Bonferroni) tests were used in univariate analyses, while linear regression analysis was employed in advanced analyses. The research group's perceived food literacy score was 90.84±11.92, healthy lifestyle behaviors score was 129.68±20.52, and quality of life score was 3.25±0.54.anam. Perceived food literacy was significantly negatively influenced by gender, alcohol consumption, eating out, and ready-made food consumption variables. (p<0.05). The scores of the Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale II (HLBS II) and the European Health Impact Scale (EUROHIS-QOL.8) remarkably positively affected the variables (p<0.05). The scores of the Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale score was negatively affected by low income, health checkup frequency, previous dieting status, and weight dissatisfaction, while it was positively influenced by perceived food literacy score (p<0.05). EUROHIS-QOL.8 score was negatively influenced by low income status, frequency of fast food consumption, and weight dissatisfaction, while it was positively affected by the profession's impact on healthy eating and perceived food literacy score (p<0.05). Increasing food literacy among health professionals, developing a healthy lifestyle and increasing the standard of living will have an impact on public health.